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This is the time of general elections. This is a very important occasion for many reasons. India is the largest democracy and this time 96.88 crore citizens have the right to vote. Every vote for any candidate is also a vote for democracy.
Elections are taking place in a large number of democratic countries across the world and the results of each of them will impact different global events in different ways, but the elections in India will contribute the most to strengthening democracy. Therefore, the need of the hour is that every possible effort should be made to ensure maximum participation in the elections.
The Election Commission of India should be appreciated for making every possible effort to reach out to voters and arrange voting in remote places. Some of these areas are difficult to access. Campaigns have also been launched through civil society organizations and newspapers to raise awareness about the rights and duties of voting. Voters have also responded positively to that call and have enthusiastically exercised their franchise in the first two rounds. The trend so far has been satisfactory but whenever voting percentage figures are discussed, observers and analysts often cite hot weather as a major challenge. If voters had come out in good numbers despite the heat and if elections had been held in favorable weather, their participation in the democratic process would have been much higher.
In the current situation, weather is proving to be an important link. The elections should be scheduled in such a way that the results are declared before the end of the term of the 17th Lok Sabha (June 16). Taking into account logistical reasons and security requirements, voting will have to be conducted over a period of several weeks. Keeping both these facts in mind, this time's election program started in April and will end in June. This is the time when most parts of India suffer from the heat.
It is to be noted here that the Election Commission of India has taken the weather into consideration while fixing the deadline for conducting the polls, but the June 16 deadline also had to be adhered to. As soon as the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) issued flood warnings in several districts during April, the Election Commission took immediate action.
They decided to set up a task force comprising officials from the Indian Meteorological Department, National Disaster Management Authority and the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. This task force will review the impact of wind and moisture five days before each round of voting and take necessary action, if necessary. The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare will issue necessary guidelines to the health authorities in the states to provide preparedness and assistance to them in facing the heat conditions that may impact the conduct of elections.
Responsibility has been given.
The Election Commission has also asked state level officials to provide shelter, drinking water and fans at polling stations. I am sure that these measures will provide some degree of relief to voters, yet these measures address only one aspect of the electoral process. We cannot ignore the fact that candidates, leaders and workers of various political parties have to campaign outside in the heat and dust.
The news of big leaders fainting in public rallies is shocking. It is obvious that many people who came to participate in the rallies may have fainted due to the heat and some may have even lost their lives, but such cases are rarely highlighted or suppressed by the political parties concerned. Holding elections in the summer season is an invitation to such dangers. The tragedy is that despite all this, adequate measures have been avoided. Voter apathy can begin during the campaign itself. However, the reality is that due to the scorching heat, the enthusiasm to vote among the voters is decreasing.
There are many other reasons that discourage voters from voting. The biggest reason for voter apathy is the unreliable system of political parties which the educated voters are not liking at all. The neglect of the public by the public representatives after winning the elections is also a responsible factor for the decline in vote percentage.
The arrangements at polling stations should be appreciated, but voters in rural areas who may have to travel long distances in the scorching heat may not like to step out. We should note that such scenarios are not the exception but the norm. This weather condition is not unexpected during summer in India. Temperatures in the northern plains, southern islands and coastal areas go above 40°C, even above 45°C at some places. More importantly, whenever elections are held in future in May-June, these weather-related problems will persist.
We should not ignore the fact that global warming and climate change may make the situation more difficult. So we need to discuss the appropriate timing of elections for voters, campaigners and election officials and workers. Needless to say, this is also important for the health of democracy.
Now is the time to make a weather-appropriate schedule for the general elections. Let me clarify here that this issue was not part of the terms of reference of the high level committee constituted under my chairmanship to conduct joint elections. My suggestion regarding the election program is different from the recommendations of that committee. This suggestion is being given by me in a personal capacity which is also very appropriate.
I believe the climate concern is so serious that it requires a thoughtful and collective initiative. In the interest of democracy, all stakeholders should come together and find a way to solve this problem. Our objective should be to conduct elections in an environment that is conducive to maximum participation so that the system of democracy can be strengthened.