• The Meitei Society urges ECI to expand voting for displaced people of Manipur

    North East
    The Meitei Society urges ECI to expand voting for displaced people of Manipur
    The letter lists the difficulties faced by Manipur voters who have been displaced and mentions the large number of internally displaced people (IDPs) in Manipur......


    Digital desk: The Meitei Heritage Society has written a sincere letter to Rajiv Kumar, Chief Election Commissioner of the Election Commission of India, requesting that fair and inclusive participation be ensured in the next Lok Sabha Election. The letter, dated March 25, 2024, emphasizes how urgent it is to provide Manipur voters who are displaced and living outside the state as a result of the ongoing conflict with access to the postal ballot system. 

    The basis of the postal ballot system's motto, "No voter to be left behind," is emphasized by the society's appeal. It highlights how important it is to give thousands of Manipur voters the freedom to exercise their democratic rights despite being uprooted from their homes.

    The letter lists the difficulties faced by Manipur voters who have been displaced and mentions the large number of internally displaced people (IDPs) in Manipur since the unrest that started on May 3, 2023, with over 60,000 people impacted. The Election Commission deserves praise for setting up programs that allow internally displaced people to cast ballots at relief camps, but it ignores the predicament of those who have fled the camps in quest of employment opportunities elsewhere in the nation.

    The letter highlights how the violence has made Manipur's bad economic position worse and highlights how difficult it is for displaced voters to go. Many voters who live outside the state find it impossible to return to Manipur to cast their ballots because of the state's paralyzing economic activity and looming security concerns.

    The Meitei Heritage Society urges the Election Commission to allow Manipur voters who live outside the state to cast ballots by mail as long as they have a valid voter ID card. The group contends that such an extension will guarantee that, even in the middle of the state's turbulent time, the voices of displaced Manipur voters resound in the political process.

    The letter ends by expressing optimism that the Election Commission will respond favorably and restating the society's willingness to help in any way that is required. It serves as a powerful reminder of the essential tenets of democracy and the necessity of defending each citizen's rights, particularly during times of crisis. 

    The passionate petition from the Meitei Heritage Society is a moving cry to action, imploring authorities to protect the integrity of India's democratic system by granting voting rights to those who are most in need.