Jind (Haryana): The Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, conducted across the country, received its fair share of criticism from the Opposition and large sections of voters as well for the way it was carried out by the Election Commission of India (ECI).
But for two men from Haryana, SIR has been a life-changing experience.
One of them had left his family in Jind district decades ago because he didn’t want to burden them with the cost of his polio treatment. Thirty-five years later, he was reunited with his brother as the SIR exercise brought him back to his home district, PTI reported.
Amritsar resident Sita Ram (55) turned up at the principal’s office at Government Senior Secondary School in Jind’s Manoharpur village to collect his School Leaving Certificate (SLC), which he said had to be submitted for SIR verification.
Assistant Electoral Registration Officer (AERO) Ramesh Kumar was present when Ram arrived.
“Ram told us that he studied at the school up to Class X but had not passed the examination and therefore needed the SLC, so that he could submit it to the officials in Punjab,” Ramesh said. He then instructed Booth Level Officer (BLO) Krishan Kumar, who is from the same village, to gather details about Ram.
When Ram said he hailed from Manoharpur village and mentioned his brother’s name as Dalbir, it immediately struck a chord with the BLO as he personally knew Dalbir (60).
When the BLO rang Dalbir to inform him about Ram, Dalbir was over the moon.
“Yes, he is indeed my brother. I have been searching for him for the last 35 years,” Dalbir said over the phone, according to the account shared by the BLO.
Emotions ran high when Dalbir reached the school and saw Ram. The long-lost brothers broke down in tears and embraced each other.
The touching reunion left everyone present at the school visibly moved.
BLO Krishan said the family had been searching for Sita Ram for years, and had eventually given up hope and presumed that he was dead.
