Voting Rights for NRI Goans. (Letter to the Honorable Commissioner for NRI Affairs)

From,Mr. Arwin Mesquita,Abu Dhabi, UAE.05TH April 2008.
To,Mr. Eduardo Faleiro,Honorable Commissioner for NRI Affairs,Government of Goa, Secretariat,Porvorim, Goa, India.Email: contact@globalgoans.org.in
Subject: Voting Rights for NRI Goans.

Dear Sir,
I am writing to you to request voting rights for NRI Goans.

While this may not be priority at the National Level or for most other States; Goa differs with a large percentage of Goan NRI’s with no influence, on the state of affairs in Goa.

I believe that this is a very important; it will benefit the NRI Goans & Goa, on the whole. Appreciate if you can address the same with the concerned people at the earliest.

Thanking you for your support,

Sincerely,
Arwin Mesquita

CommentAuthorARWIN
CommentTimeApr 11th 2008

Dear Mr. Faleiro,

Thanks for your reply & efforts. I will circulate this amongst NRI Goans.

We hope that this turns into a reality at the earliest. Goa & Goans will be the most to benefit from the same.

Please let us know if NRI Goans can do anything; in anyway possible to expedite the same.

Kind Regards,Arwin Mesquita,Abu Dhabi, UAE.

On 11 Apr 2008 07:13:27 -0000, Lokseva wrote:
EDUARDO FALEIROCOMMISSIONER FOR NRI AFFAIRS(Cabinet Minister Rank)GOVERNMENT OF GOA
April 11, 2008

Dear Mr. Mesquita
Thank you for your e-mail regarding voting rights to NRIs. I support this demand and I had taken it up with the Prime Minister and the Law Minister when I was in Parliament. A Bill was introduced in Parliament for this purpose. However, in reply to Unstarred Question no. 3151 in the Lok Sabha on December 7, 2007 the Union Law Minister stated "With a view to enabling citizens of India who are absent from their place of ordinary residence in India owing to their employment, education, or otherwise, outside India to get their names enrolled in the electoral rolls and cast their votes when they are in their constituency at the time of polls, the Government introduced the Representation of the People (Amendment) Bill, 2006 in Rajya Sabha on the 27th February, 2006. The said Bill was referred to the Department-Related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Personnel, Public Grievances, Law and Justice for examination and report. The Committee presented its 16th Report on the Representation of the People (Amendment) Bill, 2006 to Rajya Sabha and laid the same in Lok Sabha on 4th August, 2006. The Government has not taken any decision on the recommendations of the Committee so far". As of today, it does not appear that there is likelihood of any such law being enacted during the term of the present Parliament. I intend however to pursue this matter with the Government of India.

Regards
EDUARDO FALEIRO