Religious Leaders Trained to Promote Voter Participation Ahead of Electoral Roll Revision in Telugu States

HYDERABAD, June 23, 2026: More than 100 priests, religious brothers and religious sisters from Andhra Pradesh and Telangana participated in an online awareness and training programme aimed at promoting voter participation and ensuring that eligible citizens are included in the electoral rolls ahead of the forthcoming Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise.

The virtual session, held on June 22, was organised jointly by the Conference of Religious India (CRI), the All India Peace Mission (AIPM) Telangana, and Youth Welfare Telangana. Designed as a Train-the-Trainers programme, the initiative prepared religious leaders to serve as resource persons and community facilitators during the SIR process scheduled from June 25 to July 24, 2026.

The programme marked a significant interfaith effort to encourage civic engagement and strengthen democratic participation at the grassroots level. Participants were equipped with practical knowledge and strategies to assist citizens in understanding the revision process and exercising their democratic rights.

The online training followed a two-day workshop on “The Challenges of Living the Synod on Synodality,” held from June 19 to 21 at the Montfort Social Institute in Hyderabad. The workshop had been organised by Montfort Social Institute, Telugu Regional CRI, Streevani, and the Forum of Religious for Justice and Peace.

Addressing the gathering, Mary Dias, Coordinator of AIPM, highlighted the responsibility of faith-based institutions in promoting democratic values and active citizenship. She encouraged religious communities to play a constructive role in ensuring that all eligible voters are able to participate in the electoral process.

Dt. Atif Ismail, a core member of AIPM, outlined strategies for grassroots mobilisation, while Advocate Mohammed Waseem, General Secretary of Youth Welfare Telangana and an advocate at the Telangana High Court, explained legal safeguards available to voters and mechanisms for addressing electoral grievances.

Syed Jalaluddin Zafar, President of Youth Welfare Telangana, provided hands-on guidance on completing enumeration forms, responding to visits by Booth Level Officers (BLOs), and addressing concerns related to voters identified during the electoral roll verification process.

During the session, participants resolved to work within their parishes, schools, educational institutions, and social service centres to raise awareness about the SIR exercise and assist citizens in completing the necessary procedures. The organisers also proposed conducting similar training programmes across dioceses in the region to widen outreach and ensure greater voter enrolment throughout the two Telugu-speaking states.

The initiative received additional encouragement from Cardinal Anthony Poola, Archbishop of Hyderabad and President of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India (CBCI), who had earlier issued a circular urging the faithful to participate actively in the electoral roll revision process.

By equipping priests and religious sisters as community educators, the programme sought to reinforce the Church’s commitment to social responsibility, civic participation, and the promotion of the common good. Organisers expressed hope that the collaborative effort would help ensure that every eligible citizen has the opportunity to be included in the electoral register and participate fully in the democratic process.

By Catholic Connect Reporter