The Hindu : New Delhi News : At last they got their right to vote

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, May 18, 2004

New Delhi

New Delhi

At last they got their right to vote

By Anjali Dhal Samanta

NEW DELHI, MAY 17. For over 55 years he waited to exercise his democratic right. Finally, this time, in the 14th Lok Sabha elections, he expressed his choice. Aged 75 years, Prithvi Chand Sharma, one of the countless homeless in the city, was a first-time voter in the recently concluded elections. And he was not alone, about 50-odd more citizens like him voted for the first time on May 10 in Delhi. Originally from Rawalpindi in Pakistan, Prithvi crossed the border at the time of Partition. But despite - as Prithvi claims - having participated in the freedom struggle, for years, he could not avail of his rights as a citizen.

"I tried several times earlier to get my name included in the voters' list but that never happened. They would ask for my ration card and since I did not have a permanent residence I had no ration card. Hence they would send me away. But I am so glad that I could vote this time. It was a great feeling to be part of the country's electoral process,'' said Prithvi, who is currently residing in a shelter for the homeless at Jhandawalan on Ram Krishan Bhajani Marg.

About 50-odd people like Prithvi exercised their democratic right for the first time this year. "We decided to take up the issue because these homeless people have no identity. They are marginalised and kept away from society. The Government has to recognise their existence and they have to be counted somewhere. There were several incidents earlier when homeless people tried to get their name included in the voter's list but there was a demand for documents. But how can these people get proof of residence or other identity when they live on the streets,'' said director, Aashray Adhikar Abhiyan, Paramjeet Kaur who has been involved in a nation-wide campaign for the cause.

However, as the non-governmental agency discovered and as Chief Electoral Officer for Delhi, Arun Goyal, reiterated the "instructions'' to include homeless citizens on the voters' list already existed. However, the lack of awareness - both among the citizens and the officials - was one of the causes for the lack of participation among the homeless. "The instructions have always been there. It is possible that some officials were not aware of it. And in that situation, they would have demanded regular documents like ration cards. But once everything was clarified, we accepted the forms and pushed them. Finally, it has come through this time,'' admitted Mr. Goyal.

However, the lack of awareness is still a problem. "Though we approached the Delhi office in February, the list did not come till one week before the polling date. There were about 200 people on the list but finally only about 50 could vote. The others were stopped from voting despite their name being on the voters' list because they did not have an identity card with them. There is a lack of awareness among the electoral officers,'' said Ms Kaur.

Despite the long years of wait, these first timers are thrilled that they were finally able to exercise their democratic right. "I feel that finally I am counted somewhere. Somehow I have been finally included in the democratic process of the country. Now I feel that I matter somewhere,'' said Ashiq Ali, yet another homeless.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

New Delhi