Goanet next meets in Goa: January 7, 4 pm (meeting point: Kala Academy canteen). Goanet founder Herman Carneiro will be there. See you there! ------------------------------
On Mon, 29 Dec 2003 13:43:33 -0800 (PST), "Goa's PRIDE www.goa-world.com" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: NRIs can enroll names in voter list: EC MARGAO, DEC 29 BY HERALD REPORTER Thousands of seafarers and other non-resident Indians can heave a sigh of relief as the Election Commission of India has ruled that they are eligible to enroll their names in the electoral list and cast their vote in the elections.In a brief communique sent by ECI Secretary, S K Kaura to the Chief Electoral Office, Goa, the Election Commission clarified that NRIs are eligible for enrolment in the electoral list as per sub-section (1A) of Section 20 of the Representation of the Peoples Act, 1950.The communique was faxed to the Chief Electoral Office on December 17, six days after Chief Election Commissioner, J M Lyngdoh visited the State to review the progress of the Election Photo Identity Cards (EPIC) programme. Herald understands that the ECI's clarification on the sensitive issue has been circulated to the Collectors of both the districts for guidance and appropriate action by the taluka asssitant electoral registration officers. Doubts over the eligibility of NRIs right to vote in the elections came to the fore after the house-to-house survey undertaken by the election officials during the EPIC programme found that thousands of seafarers and others employed abroad did not possess the photo-identity cards. In Salcete itself, around 6425 such voters were found residing abroad and had not obtained the photo-identity cards.Given the sensitivity of the issue and the representations received from the political parties, the Chief Electoral Officer, Goa later on November 20 decided to seek clarifications from the ECI. Meanwhile, the axe is likely to fall on hundreds of voters - other than the NRIs, who are treated as having shifted their place of residence. These voters were not found at their place of residence during the EPIC programme survey.Election officials here have pointed out that the ECI has held that voters who have shifted their place of residence are not covered by the term "Ordinary Residents" in terms of Section 20 of the Representation of People Act, 1950, so long as they are out of the country for business or employment and should be treated as moved out of place. "We will shortly undertake the exercise to strike off names of shifted voters from the electoral list", informed an election official attached to Salcete taluka. During the EPIC survey, around 9960 voters from Salcete taluka were not found at their place of residence. They were later issued notices to show cause why their names should not be deleted from the electoral list under Rule 21A of the Registration Electors Rules. ---------- Attn: The Government of Goa & the Chief Electoral Office, Goa While the above news report in the Herald can be welcomed to the relief of the NRI Goans and particularly the Gulf-Goans and the Seafarers (Tarvottis), We, at www.goa-world.com, demand that all Goans who could not enlist their names be given full rights to register at their convenience and not be written off. Under no circumstances should the names of any of the Goans be written off the voting list. Are the Goans and the Government of Goa officials so naive and impotent that they cannot get this so-called Section 20 of the Representation of People Act, 1950 amended? We have observed that scores of rules and regulations have been changed and at frequent intervals - some to the horror and dismay of the sussegad Goans! What are the NGO's and the Goan associations worldwide doing? Are they dormant? What are the MPs and the MLAs looking at? We are positive that the CM and all those responsible for the State of Goa will look into this matter seriously and immediately and give the necessary action it deserves. It is high time the so-called 'big talkers' on the Internet and the Press get vocal and demand the fair rights to all Goans - the real son of the soil. What are the editors and the journalists doing. Just saying 'saiba pau, aiz dilam toxem amcam fallem boxibor dhi' ani ami sodanch koxi'. We repeat, we demand that no changes be made to the rights of the Goans. Gaspar Almeida Associate, www.goa-world.com/credit/ Happy holidays to Goanetters headed HOME !! ########################################################################## # Send submissions for Goanet to [EMAIL PROTECTED] # # PLEASE remember to stay on-topic (related to Goa), and avoid top-posts # # More details on Goanet at http://joingoanet.shorturl.com/ # # Please keep your discussion/tone polite, to reflect respect to others # ##########################################################################
