NRIs must register at missions to vote

[email protected] (Khaleej Times)
January 10, 2012

lokes

Abu Dhabi, January 10: Indian ambassador to the UAE, MK Lokesh has urged the Indian expatriate community in the UAE to register on the mission's website to be eligible for voting in the upcoming Assembly elections of 2012 in India.

Talking to Khaleej Times on Monday, the Indian Ambassador said that anybody can register online on the websites of the Indian missions in the UAE and the Election Commission of India.

The ambassador has clarified that an expatriate who wants to exercise his right of franchise has to first register and then cast his vote in India and not at the embassy.

“Pursuant to the law that was enacted to enable Non Resident Indians to vote in our national elections, the government has issued notifications for registration of overseas electors under the Representation of People Act, 1950,” Prime Minister Manmohan Singh announced in India on Sunday, as he formally inaugurated the 10th annual diaspora meet, the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas.

Those NRIs who have registered with the embassies of their respective countries of stay will be eligible to vote in the upcoming assembly elections in five states. Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Goa and Manipur. Polls will take place in these countries between January 28 and March 3.

Election Commission of India

According to the ECI's website, an overseas Indian can get registered/enrolled in the Electoral Roll and he/she has to file the application for the purpose in a prescribed Form 6A (available on the Indian mission's website) before the Electoral Registration Officer (ERO) of the constituency within which the place of ordinary residence of the applicant in India as given in his/her valid passport falls.

After enrolment, an overseas elector will be able to cast his vote in an election in the Constituency, in person, at the polling station provided for the part where he is registered as an overseas elector, the ECI website says. The application can be presented in person before the ERO or sent by post addressed to the ERO concerned. If the application is sent by post, it must be accompanied by a copy of the passport and all relevant documents mentioned in Form 6A duly attested by an officer of the Indian Mission in the country concerned, ECI said on its website.

Expatriates hail decision

Speaking to Khaleej Times, Dr BR Shetty, managing director and CEO of New Medical Centre (NMC) Speciality Hospitals, said: “I welcome the move of the Indian government which will benefit the Indian diaspora living overseas and invite more investments in India.” Dr Shetty said, as the Indian currency is down currently, many expats remitted money to India. In 2010 around $55 billion were remitted to India from overseas.

Dr A Titus at the Cosmopolitan Medical Centre in Abu Dhabi said, the pension and insurance plan of the government will benefit the low income group of expats, particularly. Giving voting rights to overseas Indians is a recognition for them, but I am not sure if it would invite more investments to India. Ameen Mohsin, an Indian expatriate who has been residing in Abu Dhabi for over a decade, said: “I was delighted to read this morning about the voting rights for NRIs. It is a dream come true for me. When I read it, I was sure that the next election in India will be a fair one as you know that most of the people working abroad are educated and when such people are given a chance to vote, the governme\nt we will have back home will be a good one. Wrong votes going into the ballot will be reduced.”

“Investment in India will not have a major impact as only a few have the capacity to invest and for them it is like any other day,” he added.

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News Network
September 17,2024

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Mangaluru: In an act of extraordinary selflessness, a young lecturer and mother, Archana Kamath, tragically passed away just days after donating a portion of her liver to a relative. She was 33.

Archana, who had devoted her career to shaping young minds as a lecturer at Canara College and most recently at Manel Srinivasa Nayak MBA College, was a loving mother to a four-year-old boy. Her sudden passing has left her family, students, and colleagues reeling in shock and grief.

The story of her untimely demise began when a relative of her husband, CA Chethan Kumar, required a life-saving liver transplant. 

With no other matching donors in sight, Archana stepped forward, her heart full of compassion. Her blood type matched, and without hesitation, she made the brave decision to donate a part of her liver—an act that would ultimately cost her life.

The surgery, performed 12 days ago in Bengaluru, seemed successful. Archana appeared to recover well and was discharged, bringing hope and relief to her loved ones. 

But just days after returning home, she suddenly fell ill and passed away on September 15 in a Mangaluru hospital. The cause of her sudden decline remains a mystery, compounding the sorrow of those who knew and loved her.

Her final act of love saved a life—the relative who received her liver is said to be recovering well. But Archana’s loss is felt deeply by her husband and their young son, who are now left to navigate a world without her warmth and strength.

As family and friends grapple with this tragic turn of events, Archana’s memory will live on in the hearts of those who knew her as a caring educator, devoted mother, and a woman whose ultimate sacrifice was made out of love.

The full story of her passing is still unfolding, and her untimely death has left an irreplaceable void in the lives of all who knew her.
 

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News Network
September 20,2024

Udupi: A vigilant Railway Protection Force (RPF) constable, Aparna K T, demonstrated remarkable presence of mind when she rescued a student who slipped while trying to board a moving train at Udupi Railway Station on Friday morning.

The incident occurred as passenger train number 06602 arrived at the station around 7:30 AM. The student, traveling from Mangaluru to Gokarna, had briefly alighted to purchase snacks. However, as the train began moving, she hurried back towards the carriage with the snacks in hand. In her rush, she lost her footing, slipping dangerously between the platform and the moving train.

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Woman constable Aparna K T was given a cash reward of Rs 5000.

 

Constable Aparna, who had been closely monitoring the passengers, immediately sprang into action. “I saw her running towards the train and alerted everyone by blowing my whistle. She slipped, and her legs were caught between the platform and the train. Without hesitation, I pulled her out with the help of others nearby,” she recalled.

Thanks to Aparna’s quick thinking and the swift response of the railway staff, the train was stopped in time. Railway personnel, including the guard and loco pilot, were immediately informed, and they acted promptly to halt the train using both flag signals and a walkie-talkie.

RPF Inspector Madhusoodhanan PV arrived at the scene shortly after to check on the passenger's condition. The shaken but uninjured student was given water and helped back onto the train to safely continue her journey.

In an added measure of care, the RPF post at Bhatkal was notified to follow up on the passenger’s well-being during her journey. The student, fortunately, reached her destination without further incident.

The heroic rescue was captured on CCTV and has since gone viral on social media, earning widespread praise. In recognition of her bravery, Regional Railway Manager (RRM) Karwar awarded Constable Aparna a cash reward of ₹5,000, commending her quick action that averted a potentially tragic accident.

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News Network
September 14,2024

Bengaluru: Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara on Saturday said the situation in violence-hit Nagamangala town in Mandya district is peaceful now, and steps have been taken to ensure that no untoward incidents take place.

Clashes had broken out between two groups during the Ganesh idol procession in the town, following which mobs went on a rampage with stone pelting and targeting several shops and vehicles leading to tension on Wednesday night.

"Situation in Nagamangala is now peaceful and there is no problem there. I have also instructed officials to hold a peace meeting there. We have instructed officers to ensure that no untoward incidents take place, enough police force is also stationed there," Parameshwara told reporters here.

About 55 people have been arrested in connection with the incident and they have been sent to judicial custody, according to police sources.

Responding to a question on opposition parties including JD(S) leader H D Kumaraswamy raising doubts about the FIR, he said, "The police will do what has to be done in accordance with law..."

Asked about BJP sending a fact finding team to Nagamangala, the Home Minister said, "Let them find the facts and inform us, and if there is any fact from their fact finding, we will look into it. It will make our work a bit easier." The BJP panel consisting of MLA C N Ashwath Narayan, former Minister Byrathi Basavaraj, former Minister K C Narayana Gowda, state secretary Lakshmi Ashwin Gowda, and former IPS officer Bhaskar Rao, will visit the spot and submit a comprehensive report to the party in a week.

According to police, an argument had broken out between two groups, when the Ganesh idol procession by devotees from Badri Koppalu village reached a place of worship on Wednesday, and some miscreants hurled stones, which escalated the situation.

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