By: Abdul Rahman M. Baig
Jeddah: In an initiative aimed at helping overseas Indians understand the Election Commission of India’s ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, the Telangana International Association (TIA)organized an awareness program followed by an interactive question-and-answer session at The Village Restaurant in Jeddah.
The event drew an enthusiastic response from the Indian diaspora, with more than 150 NRIs, including men and women, participating in the program.
The session focused on explaining the SIR process, its significance, eligibility criteria, documentation requirements, and the steps NRIs need to take to safeguard their voting rights.
The Election Commission of India’s Special Intensive Revision is a nationwide exercise to verify and update electoral rolls through house-to-house enumeration, verification of existing voter records, and submission of pre-filled forms. The initiative aims to improve the accuracy of electoral rolls by removing the names of deceased persons, duplicate entries, permanently shifted individuals, and non-citizens, while ensuring that all eligible Indian citizens remain enrolled.
The program commenced with an introduction to the Telangana International Association by its General Secretary, Imran Kausar, who outlined the vision and objectives of the newly formed organization.
He informed the gathering that TIA was established in February 2026 with the objective of bringing together Telangana-based community organizations serving the Indian diaspora across the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The association seeks to preserve and promote Telangana’s rich cultural heritage through festivals and community events while also focusing on education, health awareness, social welfare, and the empowerment of youth and women. He said the platform is committed to strengthening unity among community organizations and contributing positively to society through inclusive leadership.
Explaining the purpose of the awareness program, Imran Kausar said many NRIs have been facing challenges in completing the SIR process and voter mapping, particularly those who have lived abroad for several years without visiting India. He noted that many overseas Indians either do not possess a Voter ID card or an Aadhaar card, leading to uncertainty about their electoral status.
“To address these concerns, TIA invited experienced experts from Telangana to provide authentic guidance and reassure the community that there is no need to panic. The speakers explained the procedures for obtaining a Voter ID and completing the SIR process smoothly,” he said.
The program featured three distinguished experts who joined the session live from Hyderabad via Zoom.
Senior journalist M.A. Majid, former member of the Press Council of India, Steering Committee Member of the Indian Journalists Union, President of the Telangana Urdu Working Journalists Federation, and Editor-Director of 4TV Hyderabad, delivered a comprehensive presentation on the importance of the Special Intensive Revision and its relevance to overseas Indian voters.
Syed Jalaluddin Zafar, President of Youth Welfare Telangana, conducted a detailed technical session, explaining the SIR process in a simple and accessible manner. He encouraged NRIs to safeguard their democratic rights and actively participate in India’s electoral process while providing practical guidance on completing the required formalities.
Legal expert Mohammed Waseem, Advocate at the High Court of Telangana and General Secretary of Youth Welfare Telangana, highlighted the legal and constitutional aspects of the Special Intensive Revision. He elaborated on NRI voter eligibility, constitutional provisions, legal safeguards, and practical solutions to common issues faced by overseas Indians during the electoral verification process.
During the hour-long interactive session, Syed Afzal, Associate Director for Sports and Activities at the Telangana International Association (TIA), moderated the question-and-answer segment, fielding a wide range of queries from participants on voter eligibility, documentation, voter registration, and the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process. The panelists responded comprehensively, addressing concerns, dispelling misconceptions, and providing practical guidance to help NRIs better understand the procedures and safeguard their electoral rights.
The program received widespread appreciation from members of the Indian community, who praised both the expert panel and the Telangana International Association for organizing a timely and informative initiative. Many participants described the session as highly useful in helping NRIs better understand their electoral rights and responsibilities.
Reaffirming its commitment to community service, the Telangana International Association said it would continue organizing educational and awareness programs to empower NRIs with accurate information and encourage informed participation in important civic and democratic processes.
The vote of thanks was delivered by Mohammed AbdusSalam, Advisor of TIA, who expressed gratitude to the guest speakers, organizers, volunteers, and participants for contributing to the success of the program.
The Zoom session was coordinated with technical support from Mohammed Asif and Abdul Rahman of the IT team at Iqbal Academy Jeddah. Photography and videography for the session were managed by Sheikh Mohammed Aleem, Associate Director of Visual Media, while Osman Ahmed, Associate Director of Digital Media, livestreamed the program through TIA’s social media platforms.
The event concluded with refreshments, including tea, water, and cake rusks, served to all participants, bringing the informative community gathering to a warm and cordial close.
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