Dubai: Indian expatriates, officials and community workers in the UAE have welcomed the directive of the Supreme Court to the central government on Monday to ensure that NRI voting through e-postal system is implemented in eight weeks.

Voting rights for the 2.6 million-strong Indians, who form one of the largest expat communities in the UAE, received positive reaction from most quarters.

Indian Ambassador to the UAE T.P. Seetharam said it is a “welcome decision” that the government has accepted the recommendations made by the election commission. “We hope it will be implemented soon and it will provide an opportunity for all those who wish to vote to participate in the (electoral) process.”

He said the embassy is awaiting instructions from the government about the details, especially regarding attestation. “I’m sure the missions will be equipped accordingly,” he said when asked how equipped the missions are if attestations will have to be done by the missions, khaleejtimes.com reported.

“It is good to see that somebody from the UAE is pursuing this and he is pushing for same rights for all those who are displaced to other places in India and miss the chance since they are not living in their constituencies,” he said, expressing appreciation for Dr Shamsheer V.P., whom he said “has championed this cause and has been working very hard on this for the last one year”.

Advocate Hashik T. K. said: “When NRIs start voting, the political scenarios — even governments –— will change in many places, especially in states like Kerala where the difference between the ruling and opposition parties are just a few seats in the assembly which were won in a margin of a few thousands.”

Caution on challenges

However, Hashik said the government will have to look into the practical and legal challenges before making further amendments in the Peoples’ Representation Act to implement the e-postal voting system.

“It may be misused in some countries where India doesn’t have its diplomatic missions. Also, many uneducated workers depend on others to do online transactions and even for filling up forms. There are chances of these people getting cheated or influenced by people with vested interests. Ultimately, the government should take measures to keep the secrecy of the NRI votes.”

Bharatbhai Shah, who last week won the Pravasi Bhartiya Samman Award for NRIs, said he is changing his staunch opposition to NRI voting since the move is to make it e-voting. “I was afraid of Indian politicians coming … overseas … for campaigning and propaganda spoiling the image of the law-abiding Indian community. Since the court and the government are going to implement e-voting, even the campaigns will be done online. Also, proper arrangements will be done to make the procedures foolproof.”

Anwar Naha, president of Kerala Muslim Cultural Centre (KMCC) — which has been campaigning for NRI voting rights and used to charter flights to fly voters ever since registered NRIs were allowed to vote by visiting India — congratulated the government for showing willingness to implement NRI voting from overseas. “Now our request is to ensure a consensus among all political parties for the smooth and secure implementation of the e-ballot voting system. Some concerns and anxieties are still there, but they should be tackled well and should not be allowed to hamper the implementation of this long-pending demand of NRIs.”

Voice of the workers to be heard

T.R. Remesh, president of Overseas Friends of Bharatiya Janata Party (OFBJP), said the biggest change that the move will bring is that “all Indian expatriates, including the blue-collar workers and middle class people, will get the same importance”.

“So far, only the voice of the business people and those who are rich and influential was heard.

“This government could have also dragged the issue like the previous governments did. But the current government has shown its commitment towards NRIs by clarifying in its affidavit that it was ready to implement any directive of the court within the specified timeframe. It is a right decision from the Supreme Court and the government of India.”

He said it is the responsibility of expats to ensure that they exercise the voting rights by abiding by the laws of the land of their residence.

On the same note, Urvashi Singh Thakur (right), a photographer in Dubai, said: “On one hand I’m sure there will be people who have been waiting to vote from overseas, on the other hand there are people like me who have very scarce information about the happenings in India. I moved out of India 10 years ago and what goes on in the country has a very little influence on me. I don’t think I would vote.”

“There are many Indians residing in the Gulf region who still hold Indian passports. Most of us feel the need to exercise our right to vote. It is the only strength that our democracy gives us. There should be transparency in carrying out this new system,” said GM Bajpai (left) of GMB Insurance Consultants.

Abdul Latheef, a driver who has done an amateur short film on expatriate workers’ lives, and Rakesh Joshi, a project manager at a construction firm, echoed similar views. They said the issues of the common people, especially workers, will earn importance in the agendas of the governments and political parties when they start voting. “I’ve seen many executives here are not much interested in Indian politics and elections but the labourers are very keen on what happens back home. I’m sure they are going to benefit,” said Joshi.

Latheef said it was just a matter of time that workers, most of whom now use social networking sites to keep in touch with friends and families, also learn the electronic procedures to cast their votes.

Sunil Bhatia (right), Managing Director of E4 Entertainment, said: “It is an excellent move. Everything today is moving electronically, so why not voting too. Indians are political savvy and e-voting will make it convenient. We have been waiting for this move.”

K.V. Shamsudheen, chairman of Pravasibandhu Welfare Trust, said the election commission and media must hold massive campaigns to create awareness on the need and method of voting.

“NRIs had the opportunity to add their names in voters list since two years. But, so far less than 12,000 have registered in the voters list, and in that, 11,400 were from Kerala.”

“It is a good idea to introduce e-voting to NRIs. I think this will lead to more Indian expats in UAE to vote, including me,” said Dinesh Narayan, an auditor based in Dubai.

Sounding a cautious note on the e-voting system, Rohit Gupta (left), a musician at Raaga Factory said: “I’m not updated with what is happening in India’s political scene. All I know is only because of what the media relays. As NRIs in the UAE, we only know bits of the political scenario in India, which would lead many of us to hold back from voting. It is an interesting chance for NRIs, but I’m not yet sure if I would vote.”

With a split opinion on the new e-voting system, the NRIs’ response will be clear only once the service is in place.