Pune: Suman Govekar, an 84-year-old member of Niwara old-age home, was very excited when she exercised her voting rights in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, after getting her name enrolled in the electoral list. Two years on, she is struggling in relative-mapping or progeny for the Special Intensive Revision (SIR). She does not have any documents.There are 117 senior citizens, including Govekar, in Niwara — Pune’s oldest old-age home. Their names are in the voters’ list. But away from their families and homes for years, they do not have documents to submit for their relatives’ mapping in the ongoing SIR exercise.A couple of years ago, they did not even have their names enrolled in the voters’ list. They did not have any documents to submit as a residential proof.Vijay Belsare, the secretary of Niwara, told TOI, “The trust took initiative and got an Aadhaar card for each member by showing the old-age home as their residence. Based on the Aadhaar number, their names could be enrolled in the voters’ list. Most of them exercised their right to vote for the first time in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. Now we are worried that their names might be deleted as they do not have any documents to prove their relatives’ mapping.”Chitra Dhopate (71) has been living at Niwara for several years. She does not have any document other than the voting card with her.“Ever since I came to the old-age home, I did not have any identity proof. When I got my voter identity card, I was very happy that I got some document of my own. Beyond the voter card, I do not have any document which has my name on it,” Dhopate told TOI.During the ongoing SIR exercise, the trustees helped these members to fill up the forms and submitted them to the booth-level officer (BLO) for further process. Belsare said, “Most of these members have been staying here for the past few decades with no connection with their families. Many of them do not even remember their past clearly. In such a situation, getting details of their relatives for mapping is next to impossible.”Belsare added, “When they got their voters’ card, they got a sense of belonging after seeing their names and photos on a govt document. Now, we are trying to approach the administrative officials and request them to consider these senior citizens as a special case and ensure their names stay in the voters’ list.”Electoral registration officer (ERO) Vitthal Udamale said, “We will consider their request and if the need arises, we will make special arrangements. Our officers will visit the old-age home to conduct a hearing for every member.”
