Hi Friends,

Even as I launch this today ( my 80th Birthday ), I realize that there is yet so much to say and do. There is just no time to look back, no time to wonder,"Will anyone read these pages?"

With regards,
Hemen Parekh
27 June 2013

Now as I approach my 90th birthday ( 27 June 2023 ) , I invite you to visit my Digital Avatar ( www.hemenparekh.ai ) – and continue chatting with me , even when I am no more here physically

Tuesday, 8 January 2019

Dark Side of Democracy




Time it takes for the moon to go around the earth and to rotate one turn on its axis , is the same



That is why , we humans get to see only same side of the moon – leaving the other side perpetually hidden from us - the dark side of the moon



This dark side is approximately , 50 % of the moon’s total surface



Every school-going child knows this



But how many of us – including all adults – know the “ Dark side of Democracy   ?



Till yesterday , I did not  !


Till I read :




Highlights :


#   280 million -  Number of people who had a vote, but didn't cast it in 2014 . That's a
                          third of 834 million voters in India


#   454 million -  Indians classified as migrants by the census. While age-wise data is not
                          available, at least 270 million of them should be of voting age

                          

#   224 million -  No of people who migrated after marriage , the majority of whom are
                         women


#   13 million -   No of NRIs.   A law, now challenged in court, allows them a proxy vote.


To be able to vote in person ( physically ) , a person can do so only at the location from where he is a registered voter


So , on election day , all those “ migrants “ , working / living in places other than where they are registered , have to either take leave and go back home, or not vote at all !


May be this explains (at least, one reason) why in most elections , voting percentage is around 65 % !


This is the “ Dark Side of Democracy “ , a side hiding some 33 % of eligible voters – keeping them perpetually away from their “ Fundamental Right “ ( - call it , “ Democratic Light “ )


But in case of moon , its dark side is only dark for earthlings , even as sun is shining on it !


And only last week , China successfully landed its rover there – a technological triumph


So , why cannot we find some far simpler technology to make voting from anywhere possible ?


Like remote voting from anywhere , using your Smart phone ?

Some 5 YEARS ago , I sent this suggestion [  VotesApp  /  18 Aug 2013  ]



And followed it up with following E Mails to Cabinet Ministers / NITI Aayog :


How to save Rs 5511 Crores  ……………………….[  12  Dec  2015  ]

One day Polling is Possible  ……………………………[  31  March  2016  ]

 

The Greatest Reform ?  …………………………………..[  12  June  2016  ]

 

ONE POLL ; ONE TIME ? ……………….. ……………….[  06  Sept  2016  ]

 

One Nation , One Vote ?  ………………………………….[  29  Nov  2016  ]

 

Electoral Reforms Capsule : A Bitter Pill ? ……….[  05  Feb  2017  ]

 

A Blue Print for VotesApp ?  ………………………………[  25  April  2017  ]

 

Block Chain for Voting ?  …………………………………..[  11  March  2018  ]

 

Americans call it “ Voatz “  …………………………………[  13  Aug  2018  ]

 

 

I don’t expect this to get implemented in either 2019 or even 2024

 

But , those 18 years olds who will be voting in 2029 , are today just 9 years old

 

If they are not enabled to vote from their Smart phones in 2029 , it is very likely that they might not vote at all !



Are we comfortable with voting percentage dropping to 35 % in 2029 – dark side turning pitch black ?

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09  Jan  2019

Rsvp  >  hcp@RecruitGuru.com



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