MUSCAT, Dec. 01, 2004
By Adarsh Madhavan
Times of Oman

Amending the Representation of the Peoples’ Act (RPA), the central laws that rule the roost in election matters in India, could allow voting rights for non-resident Indians (NRIs), an Indian minister who was in Oman on a visit recently told the Times of Oman.
Aryadan Mohammed, Kerala’s minister for electricity, told the Times in an exclusive interview that this provision could be exploited in this manner to allow voting rights for the Indians.

He noted that Indian Embassy officials/employees have voting rights thanks to a provision in the RPA. “Because of this provision, the central government employees working in the Indian embassies and other areas are allowed to vote. So, if the RPA is amended, it can include the voting rights of NRIs too.”

Aryadan also noted that the Legislative Assembly had adopted a unanimous resolution regarding this. “And we have requested the central government to look into this seriously. India is a democratic country and every Indian citizen has got the right to exercise his/her own political view.
“And I fully endorse and support the legitimate demand by NRIs across the world to provide them with voting rights.”
Aryadan argued that although NRIs went abroad, they were not engaged in personal pursuits and safeguarding only their own interests. “But, when they are safeguarding the interests of their families and earning money for them, they are also safeguarding the interest of the country. The money that they earn and send is foreign currency. I will never say that an NRI or a NRK (non-resident Keralite) is supporting only their families, they are also supporting the Kerala government and the entire country (India).
“And being abroad should not be a disqualification for an Indian.

Aryadan, who clearly is a minister with a humane face, also noted that acute poverty drove many Keralites/Indians to leave home and work abroad. Poverty is the main problem for this, he stressed.
“I will not accuse them because I know that they go abroad because they do not find jobs and may have too many mouths to feed. They are coming here for their livelihood and they are prepared to do any work — it is a sad situation, especially when they land in Gulf states like Oman, fooled by unscrupulous agents who sent them here on false promises.

“We really have to find a solution to this because it is affecting India in general and Kerala in particular.”
However, in reference to a query on the Kerala government adopting a screening programme for labourers going abroad for work, Aryadan said that the task was not easy: “Of course some kind of a screening programme is necessary, but we are not sure as to how it should be done. It is not an easy task and it requires a wholesome effort, with the approval of the central government also.”
He agreed that many Keralites/Indians were losing their jobs in the Gulf owing to ‘nationalisation’ of their jobs. “These countries have to safeguard their interests and the interest of their nationals. And I totally appreciate their stand. It is their fundamental duty to safeguard the interest of their people,” Aryadan said.

But, the fact remained that many Indians, especially Keralites, had to get back home and face a bleak and at times desolate situation on the job front. “But, this is why Norka, the organisation that looks into the well-being of non-resident Keralites, was established. It will look into these aspects and our present Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy will also look into this issue, because this is a portfolio that he is also holding.”
Aryadan, who was here for a short, personal visit (to visit his daughter and son-in-law), also said that the demand by Indians here to lower the steep airfare was also quite genuine. “The Indians, especially the non-resident Keralites have been demanding this for so many years. It is a fair, reasonable and genuine demand.

“Former Kerala chief minister A. K. Antony had represented the matter before the central government and after that the current chief minister, Oommen Chandy, has met Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh, other key ministers — foreign affairs minister, civil aviation and finance ministers — in this regard.

“But, you must understand this is not the prerogative of the state government alone. The issue has to be decided by the central government and our assembly has also unanimously passed a resolution in this regard on more than one occasion.
“Now, since Air-India is coming out with the budget airlines, things might be different, and overall I feel that the central government is quite sympathetic to this cause and they will most certainly work on the issue,” Aryadan said.