Palakkad: “My name is Rathan U Kelkar. I am the Chief Electoral Officer of Kerala. Do you know why I have come here?” “Yes… to tell us about voting, right?” came the response from a group of tribal women gathered around.

This scene unfolded on Tuesday when Dr Rathan U Kelkar, the Chief Electoral Officer, visited a Kurumba tribal settlement deep inside Attappadi as part of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the voters’ list.

“Our voters’ list is going to be revised. In the coming days, Lakshmi (Booth Level Officer) will visit you. You must show her the required documents so that your names are included in the electoral roll. If you face any difficulty, just inform Lakshmi,” Dr Kelkar explained while verifying the residents’ documents.

The visit, part of the CEO@Unnathi programme ahead of the SIR, was intended to ensure that those listed in the 2002 electoral roll continue to figure in the 2025 list and to confirm that residents of remote areas possess the necessary documents.

After staying overnight at the Anaikatti Guest House on September 15, Dr Kelkar travelled 17 kilometres along a forest track from Mukkali, reaching the Anavai settlement around 12.30 pm on Tuesday.

According to him, the SIR process in Kerala is relatively smooth, as even residents of the most remote areas usually hold the required documents.