REDEFINING DEMOCRACY- ROLE OF THE EC- PART-2
In a democracy like India, where 70% of the people live in rural areas and there exists a large majority of voters who are uneducated, living in metros, small towns, it becomes imperative to inform people about their voting rights. After racking my brains for a long time, I have come to the following conclusion :
Election Commission's ( EC ) role becomes very important to relate to this problem. Today we are living in a world, where media is playing a very important role. Even the poorest of the poor has access to radio. I see radio and TV channel as the most effective media tool to reach out to these people, even in the remotest parts of India. I think even TV has entered the villages in panchayats, where villagers get together to see the programmes which interests them.
It is the duty of EC, not only to conduct free and fair elections, but also educate the voters, how to vote and whom to vote for. Since people are uneducated, they cant read newspapers, but they can definately understand the local language, thru which EC must guide them thru radio and TV, how to exercise their right to vote.
A radio on the lines of All India Radio and TV channel on the lines of Doordarshan must be launched by the EC which should have a large reach throughout India and the the uneducated voters. As EC is an autonomous body, where executive interference is not allowed, radio and TV channel will also become autonomous.
This media should educate the voters about its their role in the democracy and how they can benefit by selecting a right candidate for them. It will enlighten the people how they can vote without fear and pressure and how they can change the face of India and their particular village in true sense. The basic thing this media should inform the rural voter should be :
1) Choose a candidate who can put up street lights, construction and repair of roads in the villages and also the village markets. How to link their village thru a proper road which can link to the national highway, so that they can have access to sell their agricultural produce in the main markets on market value and not thru a broker ( Artiya ) who exploits them by giving less rates as compared to the market rates.
2 ) keep a record of birth, deaths and marriages in the village and register it with the local panchayat.
3) Elect a candidate who can provide them public health thru govt. bodies and hygiene by providing facilities for sanitation and drinking water.
4 ) Elect a candidate who can ensure to set up schools for education for them and their children.
5 ) Elect a candidate who can implement development schemes for agriculture and animal husbandry.
6 ) Who are eligible to vote. Age limit
7 ) Local post offices in the village should be allowed to make voter ID cards.
8 ) Manifesto of all political parties, fighting elections.
9 ) List of candidates, their names, addresses, photo, their profile and track record of development in the village.
10 ) If the candidate standing for the election, has any criminal record ?
11 ) The assets of the candidates should be told to the villagers.
12 ) Whether a candidate is a new entrant. If old, then his achievements and failures.
13 ) If the candidate is elected, his time frame to provide basic facilities to the village and their people. If as per the promise, the candidate is not able to deliver, the right to recall the candidate.
14 ) MUST inform the villagers that they must not vote on the basis of religion, caste and region, but only vote for such candidates who can deliver development to the village.
I am sure if this kind of media is launched, the villages, the uneducated voters will select the right candidates, who will reach the state assembly and the parliament and thus a vibrant democracy can be established. It will benefit all the voters, rural, uneducated, slum people and the educated too. As on today, i am doubtful, if an educated voter also knows much about the candidate, standing from his area.
Educated and rich voters do not tend to go to the polling booths because of time restraints, laziness, lethargy, fear of queue and many other factors. A specific technology and software ( full proof ) must be developed on the lines of mobile banking, which the pvt. banks has started for banking operations, so that such kind of candidates can vote, sitting at home or their office. Secret pin numbers like credit card should be provided to these lazy voters, so that they can too vote, without going to the polling booth. I am sure, if this technology driven access is granted for this class, there would be 100% voting from them too. Internet can also play a very important role for these kind of people. These are the people who crib the most when wrong candidates are elected and besides doing drawing room politics, they can do nothing except to criticise the politicians and the elected representatives. After all, when they dont vote, wrong candidates do reach the assembly and the Parliament.
Election Commission's ( EC ) role becomes very important to relate to this problem. Today we are living in a world, where media is playing a very important role. Even the poorest of the poor has access to radio. I see radio and TV channel as the most effective media tool to reach out to these people, even in the remotest parts of India. I think even TV has entered the villages in panchayats, where villagers get together to see the programmes which interests them.
It is the duty of EC, not only to conduct free and fair elections, but also educate the voters, how to vote and whom to vote for. Since people are uneducated, they cant read newspapers, but they can definately understand the local language, thru which EC must guide them thru radio and TV, how to exercise their right to vote.
A radio on the lines of All India Radio and TV channel on the lines of Doordarshan must be launched by the EC which should have a large reach throughout India and the the uneducated voters. As EC is an autonomous body, where executive interference is not allowed, radio and TV channel will also become autonomous.
This media should educate the voters about its their role in the democracy and how they can benefit by selecting a right candidate for them. It will enlighten the people how they can vote without fear and pressure and how they can change the face of India and their particular village in true sense. The basic thing this media should inform the rural voter should be :
1) Choose a candidate who can put up street lights, construction and repair of roads in the villages and also the village markets. How to link their village thru a proper road which can link to the national highway, so that they can have access to sell their agricultural produce in the main markets on market value and not thru a broker ( Artiya ) who exploits them by giving less rates as compared to the market rates.
2 ) keep a record of birth, deaths and marriages in the village and register it with the local panchayat.
3) Elect a candidate who can provide them public health thru govt. bodies and hygiene by providing facilities for sanitation and drinking water.
4 ) Elect a candidate who can ensure to set up schools for education for them and their children.
5 ) Elect a candidate who can implement development schemes for agriculture and animal husbandry.
6 ) Who are eligible to vote. Age limit
7 ) Local post offices in the village should be allowed to make voter ID cards.
8 ) Manifesto of all political parties, fighting elections.
9 ) List of candidates, their names, addresses, photo, their profile and track record of development in the village.
10 ) If the candidate standing for the election, has any criminal record ?
11 ) The assets of the candidates should be told to the villagers.
12 ) Whether a candidate is a new entrant. If old, then his achievements and failures.
13 ) If the candidate is elected, his time frame to provide basic facilities to the village and their people. If as per the promise, the candidate is not able to deliver, the right to recall the candidate.
14 ) MUST inform the villagers that they must not vote on the basis of religion, caste and region, but only vote for such candidates who can deliver development to the village.
I am sure if this kind of media is launched, the villages, the uneducated voters will select the right candidates, who will reach the state assembly and the parliament and thus a vibrant democracy can be established. It will benefit all the voters, rural, uneducated, slum people and the educated too. As on today, i am doubtful, if an educated voter also knows much about the candidate, standing from his area.
Educated and rich voters do not tend to go to the polling booths because of time restraints, laziness, lethargy, fear of queue and many other factors. A specific technology and software ( full proof ) must be developed on the lines of mobile banking, which the pvt. banks has started for banking operations, so that such kind of candidates can vote, sitting at home or their office. Secret pin numbers like credit card should be provided to these lazy voters, so that they can too vote, without going to the polling booth. I am sure, if this technology driven access is granted for this class, there would be 100% voting from them too. Internet can also play a very important role for these kind of people. These are the people who crib the most when wrong candidates are elected and besides doing drawing room politics, they can do nothing except to criticise the politicians and the elected representatives. After all, when they dont vote, wrong candidates do reach the assembly and the Parliament.
posted by vaneet kundra at
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
8 Comments:
I endorse your suggestion. Media teaching of a an uneducated voter is a good step. Write to the election commission. may work...
Dear Brig. Nalwa,
Nice to receive your comments after a long time. I am sending the the blog link of artcle to the election commission. In fact, I have sent my same suggestion on the election commission website, but have'nt heard from them so far. But i have already talked about this to Former election commisioner T.S Krishnamurthy about it. I send copies of my blog pages to him everytime. Hopefully, something must materialise. If not, i shall be re-sending the same again to them. Probably election commission is busy preparing for forthcoming Lok Sabha elections for April / May this year. These suggestions are taken up when there is a mass movement for a new initiative. This has been the history of our country. Our govt. too has just woken up to to establish National Investigative Agency, after so many innocent people got killed in Mumbai terror attack. So let us make it a national movement, only then the election commission will take notice of it.
Greatminds has left a new comment on your post " The ATS Flip-flop- Sadhvi Case "
You are really bold Mr. Kundra. I appreciate your boldness. Prof Keshap
Prof. Keshap,
Thanks. Sir, It is not the question of being brave. I think that the time has come thet everyone of us should call " Spaid a Spaid " otherwise these politicians and bureacrats will keep on walking over us and nothing will change. I think it has become imperative for all educated people like us to get united and tell them in simple plain words " Stop Talking. DO something " otherwise " Get out from our way ".
Vaneet I totally agree with you and I salute you for your endewear .. you have tried to touch the route-cause of nearly failure of our democracy ... please keep it up . I am thankful to you for giving such an important information .. now I know what you are ...so far I had respect for you for your discussen on face book but now you have a repectable place in my heart and brain too.
Thanka a lot Jay.. I write lot of crap, whatever comes to my mind.. i hv stooped blogging as it was one way traffic.. On Facebook.. u tend to meet so many like-minded friends like u with whom u can discuss and share..
Mr. Kundra, i do agree with you whole heartedly on your vision..........
But we have criminals as MPs and MLAs, and the EC is unable to do anything about it !!!!
Debashis,
I agree with u abt the present scenario.. But plz dont forget.. There is always a first step to cover 1000 miles.. We together can take that first step..
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