I scanned this article from the recent issue of The International Indian magazine.
------- NRI Voting: The dilemma of rights A beginning has been made and though the final outcome remains unknown, the voice of the NRI community is already being heard beyond the ballot boxes. The voices of the NRI community in the Gulf States are yet to find a place in the Indian electoral process that is uncomfortable with the uncertainty of the consequences such a step might have in determining the course of governance in India. The issue has long been side stepped with a measured caution and empty assurances from politicians, mainly citing procedural difficulties in implementing a mechanism for NRIs to participate in the electoral process. However, there is an estimated 20 million NRIs spread across the world of which almost 4 million resides in the Gulf States alone. Many of them have been industriously investing in commercial establishments, hospitals and residential complexes, contributing positively to a growing economy. It is estimated that every year the state of Kerala alone receives almost Rs 24,000 crores in repatriation with the NRIs in the Gulf region on the whole contributing an estimated $6 billion worth of remittance to the India exchequer. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has now categorically pointed out that Gulf Indians have a "convincing political basis" in demanding voting rights and that the government would be taking appropriate measures in this regard at the earliest. He further elaborated "Most of them have immediate families back in India and have thus a vital stake in local governance, including the issue of who would represent them in the state assembly or the national parliament." Will the Indian government finally grant voting right to Gulf's NRIs? Gulf NRI demands have also found support in the Kerala chief minister Oommen Chandy, who feels that: "Being Indian nationals, these NRIs should be allowed to exercise their franchise. NRls in the Gulf region have contributed significantly to the economy of Kerala and there is a pressing need to recognize their contribution." He has further recommended to the Centre to make sure that the voters' list includes all the names of Indian passport holders in the Gulf region. The government to demonstrate its sincerity on the issue soon followed up the pledge with a Cabinet note being drafted with the final decision on the matter being the responsibility of the Union Cabinet. What seems to be a simple issue on the surface in which the "right to vote" is a constitutional right of every citizen, at the same time is a privilege that must be exercised with responsibility and a clear understanding of the Indian political system. Therefore, while Indians living outside the country and holding an Indian passport are certainly entitled to be allowed the right to vote in elections ethically, the Indian constitution does not evidently have a provision to implement it in practice. The constitution under Section 20(8) (d) read with Section 20(3) of the RP Act, 1950 states that NRI citizens who are employed under the Government of India are qualified to be registered as voters. However, according to the Constitution of India, Section 19, of the Representation of Peoples Act, 1950, clearly points out that "only a person who is ordinarily resident in a constituency is entitled to be registered in the electoral roll of that constituency." So, the first step to consider in NRI voting is the amendment of the law by the parliament without which any initiative would not have value or credibility. The seeds of corruption have also long been allowed to erode through the sanctity of the electoral process, therefore making it difficult to imagine a transparent mechanism in which NRIs will be allowed to be an effective part of the electoral process. There is a certain amount of political idealism in demanding voting rights for NRI with the belief that it will somehow make the Indian government more accountable and change things for the better. It certainly is a possibility but a somehow distant optimism given the existent realities of Indian politics and law. There is also a certain amount of risk in conducting India's state assembly or national elections in the Gulf region, where the perception of Indians is that of a hardworking and generally a peaceful community posing almost negligible threat to the Government. But granting the opportunity to participate in local and national elections in India could radically change that perception as political divisions creep in and Indian political parties wrestle to make an impression. The situation will be made further unstable by the fact that politics in India is not issue based but fueled by class, caste and religion. While in India, this is seen as part of the political process, in a foreign land it is sure to be scrutinized as a threat and will in some way disturb the unity and attitudes of the expatriate community. There is also a demand by the NRI community to be effectively represented in the Indiana Parliament and to establish a qualified ministerial portfolio at the Centre to address the needs arising from NRI affairs. But for now, the debate on extended voting rights has been set in motion. A beginning has been made and though the final outcome remains unknown, the voice, of the NRI community is already being heard beyond the ballot boxes. Fatima Choudhary is a freelance writer based in, Toronto, Canada __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com _____________________________________________ Do not post admin requests to the list. Goanet mailing list (Goanet@goanet.org)
