During the years 1997-2001, while I was studying Engineering, I had tried to get my name included in the electoral list 3 times. But the authorities, for some reason, did not do the needful. Anyway, the Jaaago Re campaign and nudging by some friends did have the necessary effect and I decided to try getting listed again.
Yesterday I had taken the day off from work, was not at the best of my health. So thought of taking the plunge into Indian democracy. Jaago Re helped me fill the necessary forms and directed me to submit the same in Jaya Nagar. I could reach there only by 1215, they were closed. They remain closed from 1200 to 1600. Any comments on the timings? Any way, asked a few people if that was the right office and if they would indeed receive my forms. After being assured of the same, I came back for lunch. (Its a different story, whatever happened on the way back. May be in later posts.)
I was back in the office at 1530. No I was not the only person who had come early. There were 5 more, ahead in the queue. And the queue kept increasing every minute. Democracy in action. It was no less than a queue for cinema tickets. I had no idea that people were so enthusiastic about the elections. Or was it something else? Perhaps the colaterals of the elections !
My turn came and I showed my papers to the officer. He started talking to me in Kannada. I had to interrupt him and request him to speak in Hindi/English. He was annoyed. "How long have you been here?". "2 years." "And you cannot speak Kannada?" "No. But I promise that I will be peaking Kannada when I meet you next." And then only he smiled. But it was of no use. I was not supposed to submit the forms there at all. Some other office for me, somewhere closer to my house.
It took some effort to locate the office where I could submit forms. Yes, it was very near to my house. Whoa, what a crowd! All waiting to check if their names were included, to colect their ID cards. I submitted my forms. Talked to the officers there about the doubts I had and returned, to finish the pending work (As I have already told above, may be in some other post).
I have been asked to check for inclusion and card in 20 days. Hope I get it done this time. Amen.
10 comments:
I don't know much about Karnataka, but it has been pretty smooth process in Delhi. I got my Voter id card, when I was in Chennai and was not in Delhi for the past 3 years. They come to your home for voter registration and just ask for your pic and ration card. Mhy pic was also given by my father, so you do not have to be physically present there. It may lead to a possible security lapse also but till now it has been pretty comfortable for us. Now I wonder why Sheila Dikshit is serving her thrid term!!!
i differ with the views of vikas.It is the duty of the voter to get himself/herself registered as a voter. Government should not send people to the voters to collect their pic , ration card etc.If the Government is doing this,as pointed out by Vikas, then the ruling party of the day is enticing the voter to vote for the ruling party and it is grossly unethical on part of the ruling party of the day.
Hopefully you'll get the voter's registration card soon.
I totally agree with pooja on the point that it is the duty of the voter to get himself registered. But if the voter already has a government document supporting the fact that he/she is a resident of that city at the respective address, ten he has already performed his/her duty to verify that he is eligible for the Voter id.
Its just a drive undertaken by Delhi Government to get as many people registered as possible, as there might be many people who have the required documents with them but still are not able to go to the voter's office for registration(as the registration is open for a specific period of time). So if they are checking the required documents well, then I think its a good job done by the Voter Registration Office.
the comment is not just for this post, but for ur blog as such. i can now say that SID my friend u have arrived, ur blogs are not just ,mere musings they are worth reading and sometimes worth leaving a comment on too.
Today I went to see if my ID card was ready. Found out that the office remains closed on Mondays !
And today I could not know the status of my application even after waiting in the queue for more than 2 hours. what can I say, "better luck next time" :-)
Yesterday waited in the queue for 3 hrs. Had left office early for the same. But no luck again.
vikas's reply is unconvincing. Government should direct the resources to genuinely productive activities rather than undertaking such drives (indirectly) aimed at earning (undue) goodwill of innocent people and enticing voters at the time of elections. Vikas is either pretending to be naive or he really does not understands the idea behind such a drive undertaken by the government.
I think we have certain number of people already working in the Voter Registration office all the time, and its highly improbable that the Delhi Government would have hired more people for thsi drive. These people couldn't have been directed to "genuinely productive activities".
If with the present staff, if the Government is able to do such a thing, its admirable.
I am not trying to be pro government, it has many short comings also, but instead of always criticising, if they have performed well increasing their efficiency, we must admire it also.
I did get my voter ID card yesterday :-)
Post a Comment