Voting rights to NRIs
Government of India wants the NRIs to participate in Indian democracy. The government has proposed inserting sub-section 1AA under Section 20 and thus wished to amend the Representation of People's Right. But are the changes enough to encourage?
THE REPRESENTATION of People’s Act is awaiting some changes and the change is likely to come in the form of voting rights to non-resident Indians (NRIs) in Indian elections. Earlier they were barred under Section 19 of the Representation of the People’s Act, 1950, if they remained outside India for six months for whatever reasons. The government has proposed inserting sub-section 1AA under Section 20. But to exercise their right an NRI needs to be present in his/her constituency on the polling day which might be a disappointment for them. They wanted to vote from the country of their residence which is not feasible according to the Government of India.
There are many Indians outside India and is evident from the overseas collection of Bollywood movies. Whether this population is sizable enough to make any impact on Indian democracy or not is a subject of intense interest and speculation. The proposed amendment to a large extent addresses their problem. At least they can see their name in the voters’ list. Resident Indians do not enjoy such luxury. I am thirty plus but I have never voted in any election. Not because I never wanted to vote but the way voters’ list is prepared. Those preparing voters’ list got my name wrong and I could not get it correct even after two years of making an application to that effect. Even more annoying!
Migration is not a cross-country phenomenon only. Indians migrate within India the way NRIs migrated to other countries. Those Indians who migrate to different parts of the country face the similar problem. Their involvement in the democratic process is as good as the NRIs’. No ration card, no voting card. Technically they are refugee. Are they on Indian government’s radar? The answer would be no.
Considering the kind of conditions attached to the voting conferring of the same right doesn’t leave them with any option. Consider the cost one would incur just to cast one vote in an extremely fragile political environment. Cases like Jharkhand may discourage them. NRIs don’t come to India whenever they wish to. They come on specific occasions only like attending marriage of their near and dear ones. If they have the choice of casting a vote in an election or sibling’s marriage they would unhesitatingly prefer the later. If the government wants them to exercise their right then elections would require to be planned accordingly which is an unlikely scenario. Wouldn’t it be funny that there will no elections in Kharmaas (inauspicious month for doing good things)!
NRIs wanted the government to bring an ideal change. Most of the NRIs live in the United States of America, United Kingdom and gulf countries. Flights to and from USA and UK takes more than ten hours and passengers often suffer from jet lag. There can be nothing better if the NRIs can vote from the country of their residence. If the government wants them to participate in Indian democracy then the process should be simplified. Indian consulate can be used as a polling station to facilitate voting. It is difficult but possible.
Migration is not a cross-country phenomenon only. Indians migrate within India the way NRIs migrated to other countries. Those Indians who migrate to different parts of the country face the similar problem. Their involvement in the democratic process is as good as the NRIs’. No ration card, no voting card. Technically they are refugee. Are they on Indian government’s radar? The answer would be no.
Considering the kind of conditions attached to the voting conferring of the same right doesn’t leave them with any option. Consider the cost one would incur just to cast one vote in an extremely fragile political environment. Cases like Jharkhand may discourage them. NRIs don’t come to India whenever they wish to. They come on specific occasions only like attending marriage of their near and dear ones. If they have the choice of casting a vote in an election or sibling’s marriage they would unhesitatingly prefer the later. If the government wants them to exercise their right then elections would require to be planned accordingly which is an unlikely scenario. Wouldn’t it be funny that there will no elections in Kharmaas (inauspicious month for doing good things)!
NRIs wanted the government to bring an ideal change. Most of the NRIs live in the United States of America, United Kingdom and gulf countries. Flights to and from USA and UK takes more than ten hours and passengers often suffer from jet lag. There can be nothing better if the NRIs can vote from the country of their residence. If the government wants them to participate in Indian democracy then the process should be simplified. Indian consulate can be used as a polling station to facilitate voting. It is difficult but possible.
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