Following a Supreme Court ruling on May 27, families in West Bengal face uncertainty about their citizenship status as their names were excluded from electoral rolls. Halima Khatun and Gudiya Rajak, both domestic workers, express fears of losing access to government benefits and being declared non-citizens amid ongoing tribunal hearings.

• 01The Supreme Court upheld the Election Commission’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, allowing for the adjudication of citizenship for those excluded.
• 02Halima Khatun and Gudiya Rajak, both from low-income backgrounds, have had their names removed from electoral rolls and are now facing uncertainty regarding their citizenship.
• 03Halima has provided multiple documents to prove her citizenship but was still excluded without notice, while Gudiya fears losing access to welfare programs.
• 04BJP MLA Ashok Kirtania stated that individuals whose names are under adjudication can access government schemes, but those deleted from the rolls cannot.
• 05Both women express concerns about their families' futures, including potential detention and loss of essential government benefits.

The Supreme Court ruling and subsequent actions by the Election Commission have significant implications for low-income families in West Bengal, particularly those relying on government welfare.