Right to Choose

Right to Choose

Common men are always busy in their own lives. Nobody cares what they do. Nobody asks what they need. Nobody thinks them as a part of the government. But at the time of elections everything change and that too instantaneously. The climate changes with the environment. Suddenly a quiet place becomes noisy with loud speakers chanting their party prayers, claiming the public to be the most appropriate party, announcing their candidate's name like a learnt parrot, playing various songs describing their thoughts, words and deeds. Candidates visit all the streets from which many of them are generally new to them. They visit those places about which they had no idea of a few days before. They talk friendly. They respect truly. They even touch the feet of those whom they will discriminate after a few days. Suddenly the common people become the real kings.

The ruling party starts some work in every street and they claim that they would finish it if they win. The opposition parties accuse the ruling of playing drama with the thoughts of common people. They say that the ruling party's only intention is to get votes through any means by hook or by crook. But after elections nobody cares about the incomplete tasks. If the ruling party wins they forget what works they had started. And if the opposition wins they say that there are not sufficient funds. Then they start blaming each other for the incomplete tasks. And the blame game continues...

On the other hand, the greatest fault is of common people. They don’t hesitate to blame the system any time. But when time comes they do not do the right thing. It’s a fact in India that only about less than half of the eligible people actually use their voting rights. Most of them are not living in their permanent residence which makes it difficult for them to vote. You would rarely see 1 out of 50 who visits his own place for giving vote. The story does not end here. Among the permanent resides half of the people does not want to give vote. Aged people blame their ages. Young girls are not interested to stand in a queue in a crowdie place. Some think that their individual vote is not going to decide elections fate. Some say they do not have made their voter ids. Whereas some sell their votes to the one who bids more. And at last we expect a clean government who will satisfy the needs of the common people. How is it possible..? Until and unless we change our attitude we would be far behind to choose the right government.

The Tech solution

Modern technologies have been adapted in almost every field. Then why not in elections. Is it impossible to hold elections online? The answer is No. But then comes a big question mark on the security. That too can be solved. Recently the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDIA) has provided aadhar cards. It has also collected individual finger prints as well as the retina scans. The only thing is to provide all the eligible candidates their aadhar cards. Just linking these cards with elections can make the online voting possible. Online voting centers should be there where anyone irrespective of their hometown can cast their votes. Finger print matching and the retina scan matching would provide the necessary security. And all those who were not able to vote can vote easily contributing towards the right choice.

-     Shiva Prasad