DDC Election & Displaced Kashmiri
Op-Ed by Reapan Tikoo
We have seen hate and slur against Displaced Kashmiri for not voting during
DDC elections. The macro view, miss the micro disenabling of the voting
process. DDC elections saw the worst participation from Displaced Kashmiri
(DK). In Phase-1, from 4800 registered migrants aka DK voters, only 32 voted
at Gandhi Nagar polling station; set-up twenty five Kilometers from Jagti
refugee camp. The story is the same for other phases. Why weren’t polling
booths set-up at Jagti and in other places that are in the vicinity of displaced
Kashmiris?
The ECI in the last Lok Sabha elections, had provided policy impetus that
allowed us to reach the nearest local ERO, anywhere in the Country; and
electronically transmit the Form 12C to concerned in the J&K i.e. seek postal
Ballot; this was not provided in DDC elections.
Background: Due to genocide, we fled Kashmir in the nineties of the last
century. Most of us found shelter in Refugee camps, in Jammu. In 1996, ECI
allowed us to vote from Kashmir, while in exile; under Section 36A of J&K
Representation of People’s Act 1957, which provides for setting up of booths
outside the territorial jurisdiction of the constituency.
In the last thirty years, the majority among us have moved out of Jammu for
higher education and career opportunities. Our parents have followed us i.e.,
many of us won’t be able to vote from the booths being set-up in Jammu &
Udhampur. This makes the postal ballot a very critical voting instrument. ECI,
SEC & Delimitation Commission should provide the following for our
participation:
A) Reserve Assemble/DDC/Panchayat seats in Kashmir for bona fide Displaced
Kashmiris in each District. And overall, one Lok Sabha seat from the Valley.
B) IT enabled Form 12C; using Aadhaar i.e. apply for ballot, without
physically having to visit our local ERO.
C) IT enabled fool proof attestation and casting of the vote.
D) A special drive to enroll as voters, those registered with the Relief
Department but not in the voter list.
The Provision should be disenabled, if our enrolling & voting from the Valley
isn’t seamless and easy. And if Government does that, Displaced Kashmiris,
should only vote from Kashmir; and transfer their vote back to the Valley. The
first step in reclaiming the lost home
