He works as a daily-wage labourer and, at times, sells jhalmuri to keep his family’s kitchen running. For years, his primary concern was securing two meals a day for his wife and children. But over the past six months, a far more serious question has come to dominate his life: is he still recognised as a citizen of India?
Name Excluded During SIR Process
Rafiqul Sheikh, a resident of Notunpara Mollapara in Domkal Municipality, says he has been living in a state of uncertainty since his name was excluded from the electoral roll during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process. Already struggling with age-related health problems and a precarious income, Rafiqul now fears that the deletion of his name could have consequences beyond his right to vote.
According to his family, the Election Commission’s verification process became complicated after six other individuals allegedly claimed Rafiqul’s father as their father. He was subsequently served a notice and appeared before the authorities for a hearing. The family says he submitted documents relating to his identity, family lineage and citizenship in support of his claim. However, despite appearing for the hearing and submitting the required documents, Rafiqul’s name did not appear in the final electoral roll. His 24-year-old daughter, Shiuli Khatun, was also left out, according to the family.
‘It Feels Like I Have to Fight for My Existence’
Rafiqul told The Observer Post, “My mother’s name is in the 2002 voter list. We submitted all the documents relating to our family. Even then, my name and my daughter’s name have been left out. Now people are looking at me with suspicion. Some are even questioning me. For the past few months, I have been running from one office to another. It feels as though I have to fight for my existence.”
The impact, he says, has extended beyond the electoral roll. Rafiqul claims that his family’s ration benefits have also been affected following the deletion of his name. For a household dependent largely on his daily earnings, the situation has added to an already precarious financial condition.
“On one side, there is uncertainty over work, and on the other, I am struggling to arrange the basic necessities of life. I do not know when my name will be restored,” he said.
Neighbours Vouch for His Long-Standing Residence
Family members said they have been living in the same locality for many years and that Rafiqul has never previously faced questions about his identity or residence. They claim that the family followed the procedures prescribed during the SIR process but has not received a satisfactory explanation for the exclusion.
Neighbours also vouched for Rafiqul’s long-standing residence in the area. They said he has supported his family through daily-wage work and small-scale vending and has never been involved in any controversy relating to his identity.
Repeated Office Visits Add to His Burden
However, the deletion of his name from the electoral roll has altered the situation. According to the family, questions from relatives, acquaintances and neighbours have caused considerable mental distress.
Hamidul Islam, a local resident, said Rafiqul’s circumstances were particularly difficult because of his age and limited income.
“He has to repeatedly visit government offices to resolve the issue. Sometimes he goes to the block office, sometimes to election-related offices and sometimes to collect documents. Every visit means additional expenses and physical hardship for him,” he said.
Activist Raises Concerns Over Burden on Poor Families
Speaking to The Observer Post, human rights activist Abdul Gani said the administrative process can place a significant burden on economically vulnerable families.
“For a poor family, the time, money and mental strength required to pursue an administrative or legal process can be extremely difficult to manage. If someone has to spend the day visiting offices instead of working, the family may also struggle to arrange food for that day,” he said.
Fear of Being Branded a ‘Foreigner’
The family says the uncertainty has also taken a psychological toll. They claim that the fear of being treated as a “foreigner” or an “illegal immigrant” despite having lived in the area for years has created anxiety and social humiliation.
The broader concern, according to local residents and activists, is that errors, documentary discrepancies or unresolved administrative questions during an electoral-roll revision can have consequences beyond voting rights. For economically disadvantaged citizens, repeatedly navigating government offices and legal procedures can itself become a major challenge.
SIR Raises Questions Over Exclusion and Redress
The SIR process is intended to verify and update electoral rolls and ensure that eligible voters remain on the list. However, cases such as Rafiqul’s have raised concerns among affected families about how quickly genuine claims can be resolved and how clearly reasons for exclusion are communicated.
‘I Only Want to Know Why Our Names Were Removed’
For now, Rafiqul’s immediate objective is straightforward: he wants his name and that of his daughter restored to the electoral roll.
“I believe I am a citizen of this country and I have the necessary documents. I only want to know why our names were removed and when they will be restored,” he said.
For a man who has spent his life struggling to keep his family fed, the SIR dispute has turned an ordinary administrative process into a deeply personal battle over identity, dignity and belonging.
