Dear Reader,

The Election Commission of India’s (ECI) Special Intensive Revision (SIR), launched to “purify” Bihar’s voter list ahead of the 2025 assembly elections, was completed with the final roll published last week, on September 30. The SIR aimed to remove duplicates and ensure accurate registration through door-to-door verification, but investigations by The Reporters’ Collective reveal serious discrepancies that undermine these claims.

Across 243 constituencies, over 14.35 lakh duplicate voters were identified, with identical names, relative names, and ages; notably, about 3.42 lakh of these duplicates had matching ages on all IDs. Even more concerning, around 1.32 crore voters were registered at fictitious addresses, often grouping individuals from different families and communities under single, non-existent locations. For instance, in Pipra constituency, 505 voters from diverse backgrounds were listed at a single address.

These findings highlight persistent flaws in the verification process, raising doubts about the integrity of the final voter list, which includes 7.42 crore electors, down from 7.89 crore in the previous draft. While the ECI maintains that the SIR was credible and successful, the investigation, based on data-based evidence, suggests systemic issues in the voter registration process, pointing to the urgent need for more robust checks and transparency.

In Kokrajhar, Assam, the traditional faith of the Bodo community—Bathou—is undergoing a profound transformation. Once centred on nature worship and the veneration of the sacred Siju plant, Bathouism represented an intimate connection with the natural world and ancestral beliefs. Today, however, the religion is evolving with the emergence of organised Thansalis (temples), structured priesthoods, and elaborate collective rituals that mark a departure from its earlier simplicity.

The growing influence of dominant religions has left visible imprints on Bathou practices, reshaping rituals and beliefs. At the same time, revivalist movements within the community are working to reclaim and preserve Bathou’s indigenous essence, seeking to balance tradition with contemporary realities. This report by मैं भी भारत captures voices from across Kokrajhar, revealing how faith, identity, and modernity intersect to redefine what it means to be a Bodo today.

As makhana rises in global demand as a superfood, its international wholesale price has surged 700% over the past decade, from Rs 1,000 to Rs 8,000 per kilogram. Yet Bihar’s farmers—who produce most of India’s makhana—see little of this profit. Despite a GI tag and a new Makhana Board, many are forced to migrate seasonally, as earnings from the crop cannot sustain them year-round, reports The Migration Story.

The gap stems from labour-intensive cultivation requiring abundant water and limited mechanised processing. Only traditional fisher communities can process makhana by hand, excluding landless and tenant farmers from its market. As a result, middlemen capture the bulk of profits, selling at high prices while paying farmers unfair rates. Makhana may yield more than other crops, but it remains a risky venture emblematic of broader agricultural precarity.

Despite Jammu lying on active tectonic faults, disaster research in the region has largely been deficient. In September, the tribal village of Kalaban near Jammu City faced the consequences—relentless rain caused land subsidence, collapsed houses and schools, forcing residents into makeshift relief camps just before winter. Relief has been uneven, with many still unpaid and some forced to sell livestock.

Ground Report finds deforestation, unplanned construction, and lack of studies have left Jammu highly vulnerable. Its fragile mudstone and sandstone geology worsens the impact of unsustainable development. While the government has promised a new geological survey, for Kalaban’s residents, the measures may be too late in coming.

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

Warmly,

Sunil Rajshekhar
IPSMF