Dear Reader,

The Reporters’ Collective continues its investigations into the Election Commission of India’s (ECI) Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls—a process that has drawn allegations of large-scale deletions and duplications of voters ahead of the Bihar polls. Recently, the Chief Election Commissioner asserted that the ECI does not share video recordings of polling, citing the need to protect the privacy of women voters.

However, The Reporters’ Collective discovered that the ECI shared voter data—including photographs—with the Telangana state government in at least one instance. In November 2019, Telangana launched a Pensioner Live Verification System to verify the demographic details and photographs of pension recipients. Private firms were contracted to develop, modify, and test the software, and the state government engaged them to work with the voter data.

This marks the first documented case of the ECI sharing its voter database with a state government for a project involving private companies. Apart from negating ECI’s contention, the revelation raises serious questions about the contractual terms, the timeline of data sharing, and whether adequate safeguards are in place.

In a follow-up to its earlier exposé on illegal constructions and revenue diversion in Uttarakhand’s Mussoorie Forest Division, highlighted earlier in this Newsletter, The Probe has uncovered a far graver issue: nearly 60% of forest boundary pillars—7,375 out of 12,321—have vanished. These markers, crucial for delineating forest land and preventing encroachment, appear to have been systematically removed, paving the way for land mafia and real estate developers to seize forest territory illegally. The whistle-blower who first exposed these irregularities has faced reprisals, with the Uttarakhand government transferring him despite the central government urging stringent action against those responsible.

The missing pillars are predominantly concentrated in the Mussoorie and Raipur ranges, both of which are prime targets for commercial development. Investigations suggest the removals are the work of a well-organised syndicate, potentially aided by complicit forest officials. The absence of these markers has created a legal vacuum, allowing encroachers to lay claim to forest land with impunity. Despite public outcry, inquiries into the irregularities have proceeded at an inexplicably sluggish pace, raising concerns about systemic collusion and accountability within the state’s forest administration.

In Gujarat’s Ahmedabad, despite builders’ claims of a strong market and booming affordable housing, the city’s labour nakas (informal daily-wage hiring points) tell a different story. Around 100 of these hiring points see men and women gather daily for short-term construction jobs, yet opportunities have dwindled since the pandemic. Contractors hire fewer workers for shorter stints, while automation steadily replaces manual tasks, leaving many waiting longer for less work.

Most labourers are migrants from Gujarat’s Adivasi belts or neighbouring states; women, already paid less, face sharper employment losses. Conditions remain harsh—hours in the sun without water, shelter, or toilets. Though the state collects a one per cent builder cess for worker welfare, only a fifth is spent. Authorities have set up limited shelters and subsidised meals at about 90 nakas, but widespread joblessness and distress persist, reports The Migration Story.

Kokrajhar, in Assam, the headquarters of the Bodoland Territorial Region—a semi-autonomous area—comes alive every Sunday with a vibrant tribal bazaar that serves as the heart of the region’s indigenous communities. मैं भी भारत reports that the weekly market is more than just a trading space; it is a cultural lifeline, connecting tribal families to their roots. Bodo women, the pulse of the bazaar, bring fresh vegetables, poultry, silkworms, and other local produce from rural households, offering a glimpse into their sustainable way of life. Beyond commerce, the bazaar reflects the deep bond between community, culture, and livelihood. It preserves traditions, empowers women, and safeguards the unique identity of the Bodo people, providing urban visitors with a glimpse into tribal life.

For more such stories from the grantees this week, please read on.

Warmly,

Sunil Rajshekhar
IPSMF