Over the past few months we have submitted our passport pictures FOUR times. The first couple of times vague people came to our home and collected the pictures after showing us documents validating our name and address.
Once I even has the ID card of the person who had come to collect the pictures scanned and took his acknowledgement on a printout. Subsequently when someone else came asking for the pictures again, I showed this acknowledgement. The response was a casual shrug and a simple; give your pictures if you want the photo id card!
Yesterday, yet again we had a person coming and asking us for the pictures and we went to give the same to a corporation office today morning. His crib about the additional responsibility and nonchalance about what might have happened to the earlier pictures was a reality in Indian government service.
As part of the cribbing this person told us that the election commission has for the first time officially notified that compensation of Rs. 5 and 10 Lakhs would be given for those on election duty in case of disability or death respectively.
If this is true, it is a sad. The good part is someone is sensitive enough think of compensating a person’s loss. But imagine the implications of this.
Most government officials on election duty are drafted into this and have to do the same apart from their regular work. What would be their motivation to enforce a free and fair election if the underlying threat of disability or death has been officially acknowledged?
My discomfort is not with the compensation for loss, it lies with the acceptance of violence in elections. A process which is supposed to reflect the choice of the country is becoming a sham. Educated people not voting is adding to the problem.
Its a shame.
P.S. - Like Major Bhargava commented on a previous post of mine. I am not giving up. After all I have only one counrty! I hope you all dont!!
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