Bihar, July17,2025: Credent TV News ,
Ground Report from Slums and Flood-Affected Villages
A Special Intensive Revision (SIR) campaign of the voter list is currently underway across Bihar, creating a noticeable stir in the state’s political corridors. The campaign, which spans Bihar’s vast 94,163 square kilometer expanse, has triggered a sense of urgency among voters—particularly in rural areas—resulting in long queues at cyber cafés, photocopy shops, and the homes of Booth Level Officers (BLOs) and Anganwadi workers.
From remote villages to urban slums, people are scrambling to ensure their names are correctly listed in the voter roll. This sudden rush reflects a larger awareness—and anxiety—among eligible voters about their electoral identity.
According to the Bihar government’s website, around 92,257 square kilometers of the state is classified as rural. The recently conducted caste survey reveals that out of 2.76 crore families in the state, nearly 94.42 lakh households earn less than ₹6,000 per month. This means a large chunk of Bihar’s population not only lives in rural areas but also faces financial hardships.
For these economically disadvantaged citizens, gathering the 11 official documents required by the Election Commission to register or update their voter information is no easy task. Many are struggling with the process, unsure whether their efforts will bear fruit.
In an attempt to understand the challenges and distress faced by marginalized communities during this voter list revision drive, the News Team visited some of the most vulnerable regions of Bihar.
Our team went to Kamla Nehru Nagar—one of the largest slum clusters in Patna; Raghopur in Vaishali; Islam Nagar in Araria; the Khushkibagh locality of makhana workers in Purnia; the flood-prone villages nestled between the Kosi river embankments in Supaul; and Bhubhaul in Darbhanga, one of the worst-hit areas during the 2024 floods.
This ground report captures the real stories behind the numbers—voices of people who, despite living on the edge, are making every effort to assert their right to vote.
Lack of Official Documents a Concern Even in Bihar’s Capital, Not Just Remote Areas
It’s not just the remote regions of Bihar where people lack proper documentation — even in and around the state capital, Patna, many residents are struggling with the same issue.
Take Raghopur in Vaishali district, the assembly constituency of Leader of Opposition Tejashwi Yadav. Located along the banks of the Ganges, this area sees many residents possessing only Aadhaar, PAN cards, and ration cards as identity proof.
In one such household, a woman named Gana Devi brings out her Aadhaar card, PAN card, and COVID vaccination certificate and says, “This is all we have. Please accept these.”
Most residents in this area echo the same concern — that Aadhaar is often the only form of ID they possess, and it’s the one being submitted.
Another resident, Rajpatiya Devi, says she handed over her Aadhaar card when asked. “I also have a PAN card and bank passbook, but Aadhaar was requested, so that’s what I gave,” she explains.
Kamla Nehru Nagar, Patna
Over in Patna’s Kamla Nehru Nagar settlement, the local Devi Sthan temple is enveloped in darkness.
Kanti Devi, sits cross-legged on a mat on the ground, trying to read documents in the dim light. “Even reaching this area is tough. These small, winding lanes are confusing, and most of the residents here aren’t literate. They only have Aadhaar cards. And we’ve been instructed to collect those,” she says.
This directive has brought partial relief to locals. Roopshila Devi, a resident, voices the common sentiment: “Where would we get a birth certificate from, as the government demands?”
The issue highlights a critical gap in documentation among Bihar’s urban poor, showing that the problem is not confined to rural regions alone.
