HYDERABAD: Some people want a recognition to do their duty! Citizen groups in the city are suggesting that the Election Commission must make efforts to incentivise the urban voter by issuing congratulatory certificates to colony associations that turn up en masse to vote. Will this be the answer to boosting the voter turnout in the city, which recorded an abysmal 54 per cent in the last polls?
“There are some citizen groups which are of the opinion that GHMC and EC must give away certificates to colonies that ensure 100 per cent voter turnout. They can then flaunt this as a proof of being active and concerned citizens who performed their duty,” says Raghavendra Sarma of Let’s Vote, an NGO that has been working with EC to boost turnout.
The idea of having such a certificate is that majority of the colonies and welfare associations are often at loggerheads with GHMC and local MLAs over getting work done in their area. “This will be like a licence to demand work from the authorities and make them accountable as they vote in full numbers,” added Sarma.
“I don’t know if it will really help us get GHMC and MLA to do its work, because they may not care for us once voted to power, but it will surely be helpful in motivating other citizens to also become active. We can also identify areas that don’t vote en masse and intensive campaigns can be carried out,” noted Pradeep Gadicherla of Safari Nagar Residents Welfare Association. However some other argue that incentivising voters isn’t right.
“Voting is the basic duty of a citizen. Also, one can’t expect an MLA to perform in one area just because all people there cast their votes,” says Major Shiva Kiran, Vice President of United Federations of Resident Welfare Associations.