In Indian democracy, voting is a right. No matter what you think about it, it empowers millions of people across the country. It particularly empowers those who feel that their voice is not represented in the mainstream political discourse.

Recently, when the leader of Swaraj India, Yogendra Yadav, issued an appeal to voters in Delhi to vote for none of the above (NOTA), it led to a backlash. The absence of any political alternative and the cynicism of nothing changing even if you cast a vote, is what prompts NOTA.

It’s a tool of expressing dissatisfaction with the pool of candidates, a voice against the collective betrayal by the political class. But what if this voice isn’t heard?

The idea behind NOTA is that when people start exercising it, it should make the ruling class aware of their fallacies. In realpolitik, often dictated by pragmatism and procedural stunts rather than substantive political discourse, politicians do not necessarily have a conscience. They just want to win. For them, if the numbers are not big enough, there is no real reason to cater to that constituency.

Of course, they could look at NOTA votes as potential votes they could have won. After all, what can be more symbolic of the spirit of democracy than a prospective candidate trying to convince people that she/he is good enough for their vote.

Everything then boils down to the return on investment. Is the politician’s time and effort valuable enough to convince those disillusioned with the system? Would it be better invested in convincing people who are willing to choose sides?

In most cases, the answer to these questions lies in who actually votes for NOTA. It is an informed choice and thus people who vote NOTA generally have their arguments prepared on why they don’t want to vote for any of the candidates in the field.

Sadly, most candidates have neither the intellectual faculty nor the moral conviction to actually change their opinion.

In a political system where people jump parties every other day, where ideological change is a matter of a press conference and where the bar for political discourse is often set at its lowest marker, the candidates one gets to choose from are often disinterested in the voter’s voice.

For the voter, the dilemma is always between voting as an individual or voting as a collective. As an individual, one has every right to vote for NOTA. There are so many constituencies where the same pool of candidates keep fighting for years, even generations. There are many voters who haven’t ever seen an MP or an MLA because they feel their vote is not important enough.

On the other side, it is worth considering larger political ideologies and goals. For example, an individual can think as a caste group or a religious group or member of an urban community, like the RWA.

In these cases, collective interests often overpower individual interests. Politicians too try and appease these collective voters because it is better return on their investment.

One day, we might have collectives in India voting and propagating for NOTA. This will surely draw the attention of every political party towards the NOTA voter.

For now though, the NOTA voter is mostly an individual, tired of no change, watching a surfeit of TV news debates and appalled at the political discourse in the country.

Looked at it like that, Yogendra Yadav might have been advocating NOTA as a pragmatic political tool. After all, most NOTA voters in Delhi are presumably middle or upper class and have traditionally voted for either the BJP or Congress.

So NOTA, in reality, might actually help his old party, which is more popular among the lower middle and working classes of Delhi. For some, this might seem as a piece of far fetched political fiction, but one thing is for sure: No one can predict anything about the elections until the results are out. 
&nbsp;

(This article was originally published on The DNA. Read the <a href="https://www.dnaindia.com/analysis/column-nota-unknown-factor-now-may-23-could-provide-clues-2747320">original article</a>)

 
(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL.)

&nbsp;

In Indian democracy, voting is a right. No matter what you think about it, it empowers millions of people across the country. It particularly empowers those who feel that their voice is not represented in the mainstream political discourse.

In Indian democracy, voting is a right. No matter what you think about it, it empowers millions of people across the country. It particularly empowers those who feel that their voice is not represented in the mainstream political discourse. Recently, when the leader of Swaraj India, Yogendra Yadav, issued an appeal to voters in Delhi to vote for none of the above (NOTA), it led to a backlash. The absence of any political alternative and the cynicism of nothing changing even if you cast a vote, is what prompts NOTA. It’s a tool of expressing dissatisfaction with the pool of candidates, a voice against the collective betrayal by the political class. But what if this voice isn’t heard? The idea behind NOTA is that when people start exercising it, it should make the ruling class aware of their fallacies. In realpolitik, often dictated by pragmatism and procedural stunts rather than substantive political discourse, politicians do not necessarily have a conscience. They just want to win. For them, if the numbers are not big enough, there is no real reason to cater to that constituency. Of course, they could look at NOTA votes as potential votes they could have won. After all, what can be more symbolic of the spirit of democracy than a prospective candidate trying to convince people that she/he is good enough for their vote. Everything then boils down to the return on investment. Is the politician’s time and effort valuable enough to convince those disillusioned with the system? Would it be better invested in convincing people who are willing to choose sides? In most cases, the answer to these questions lies in who actually votes for NOTA. It is an informed choice and thus people who vote NOTA generally have their arguments prepared on why they don’t want to vote for any of the candidates in the field. Sadly, most candidates have neither the intellectual faculty nor the moral conviction to actually change their opinion. In a political system where people jump parties every other day, where ideological change is a matter of a press conference and where the bar for political discourse is often set at its lowest marker, the candidates one gets to choose from are often disinterested in the voter’s voice. For the voter, the dilemma is always between voting as an individual or voting as a collective. As an individual, one has every right to vote for NOTA. There are so many constituencies where the same pool of candidates keep fighting for years, even generations. There are many voters who haven’t ever seen an MP or an MLA because they feel their vote is not important enough. On the other side, it is worth considering larger political ideologies and goals. For example, an individual can think as a caste group or a religious group or member of an urban community, like the RWA. In these cases, collective interests often overpower individual interests. Politicians too try and appease these collective voters because it is better return on their investment. One day, we might have collectives in India voting and propagating for NOTA. This will surely draw the attention of every political party towards the NOTA voter. For now though, the NOTA voter is mostly an individual, tired of no change, watching a surfeit of TV news debates and appalled at the political discourse in the country. Looked at it like that, Yogendra Yadav might have been advocating NOTA as a pragmatic political tool. After all, most NOTA voters in Delhi are presumably middle or upper class and have traditionally voted for either the BJP or Congress. So NOTA, in reality, might actually help his old party, which is more popular among the lower middle and working classes of Delhi. For some, this might seem as a piece of far fetched political fiction, but one thing is for sure: No one can predict anything about the elections until the results are out. (This article was originally published on The DNA. Read the original article) (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL.)

This election, India will finally know the effect NOTA has on the political discourse

It’s been two years since the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPWD) Act, 2016, was passed by Parliament. The Act is truly a landmark event in the lives of persons with disabilities all across India.&nbsp;

It has provisions regarding accessibility, reservations, protection and seeks to empower persons with disabilities. But the law can’t change the life of the disabled, unless it is implemented.&nbsp;

Two years after the Act was enacted, it is yet to be notified by most states. About ten have notified the state rules under the RPWD Act, 2016. This not only reflects indifference towards persons with disabilities, but also reveals apathy towards basic human rights guaranteed by this Act.

If you are a person with disability, living in India can become an act of everyday struggle. If like me, you suffer from a locomotor disability, the fear of not finding a ramp or a lift can be debilitating. Buildings with only stairs, disabled-unfriendly bathrooms, roads with chaotic traffic and people constantly staring at you become part of daily experiences.&nbsp;

It is true that persons with different disabilities have varied experiences. A person on a wheelchair has a different bodily experience from a person with visual impairment. Nonetheless, there is a common shared experience that binds them together: the experience of being excluded and even marginalised.&nbsp;

The root of the problem often lies in the idea of ‘normality’. Everything around us is built on the normative ideas of an able-bodied world and thus for the disabled, everyday things are often inaccessible. For the society, persons with disabilities simply don’t fit into the predefined ideas of what is ‘normal’ and are thus either pitied or completely ignored.

There are many challenges that the disabled face. Even the process of getting a disability certificate is full of obstacles. Apathetic doctors, a callous bureaucratic government machinery and lack of awareness make life very difficult. Getting to school is even harder. In ‘special schools’, the quality of education and attitude towards the disabled students remain dismal.&nbsp;

If one somehow gets over all these hurdles, finding a job for a person with disability can be a traumatic experience. There are only a handful of organisations across sectors willing to accommodate the needs of the disabled or treat them as equals.&nbsp;

The situation gets worse depending on the caste, class and gender of the person. But, even if you are privileged, you are still excluded and marginalised in one form or the other. The forms and ways of marginalisation may vary, but each adds to the everyday physical and psychological trauma.&nbsp;

Though laws in themselves won’t change the society’s perception towards the disabled, they will definitely make life more dignified. &nbsp;

By ensuring accessibility, promoting educational and job opportunities and preventing discrimination, the law can enable them to live a more fulfilling life. That, in turn could lead to a more visible and vocal disabled community, which may lead to a change in how they are treated and perceived in society.&nbsp;

The implementation of an Act like RPWD would at least work towards a better future for the disabled. It would ensure that roads and buildings are accessible and if not, people can raise their voice against it on a legal forum.&nbsp;

One of the more progressive aspects of the present law is that it makes harassment of a person with disability a crime. It also makes promises about livelihood and education. No matter how all this transcends on ground, this law will certainly enable persons with disability to assert themselves.

This law is a small step in that direction, but it cannot be effective unless it is notified and implemented by all states. It is essential that states come on board and urgently notify rules according to the Act. By not doing so, they are not only being indifferent towards persons with disabilities, but are also robbing them of their basic human rights.

(This article was originally published on The DNA. Read the <a href="https://www.dnaindia.com/analysis/column-implementation-of-rpwd-act-is-a-step-in-empowerment-2696834">original article</a>)

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

It’s been two years since the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPWD) Act, 2016, was passed by Parliament. The Act is truly a landmark event in the lives of persons with disabilities all across India.

It’s been two years since the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPWD) Act, 2016, was passed by Parliament. The Act is truly a landmark event in the lives of persons with disabilities all across India. It has provisions regarding accessibility, reservations, protection and seeks to empower persons with disabilities. But the law can’t change the life of the disabled, unless it is implemented. Two years after the Act was enacted, it is yet to be notified by most states. About ten have notified the state rules under the RPWD Act, 2016. This not only reflects indifference towards persons with disabilities, but also reveals apathy towards basic human rights guaranteed by this Act. If you are a person with disability, living in India can become an act of everyday struggle. If like me, you suffer from a locomotor disability, the fear of not finding a ramp or a lift can be debilitating. Buildings with only stairs, disabled-unfriendly bathrooms, roads with chaotic traffic and people constantly staring at you become part of daily experiences. It is true that persons with different disabilities have varied experiences. A person on a wheelchair has a different bodily experience from a person with visual impairment. Nonetheless, there is a common shared experience that binds them together: the experience of being excluded and even marginalised. The root of the problem often lies in the idea of ‘normality’. Everything around us is built on the normative ideas of an able-bodied world and thus for the disabled, everyday things are often inaccessible. For the society, persons with disabilities simply don’t fit into the predefined ideas of what is ‘normal’ and are thus either pitied or completely ignored. There are many challenges that the disabled face. Even the process of getting a disability certificate is full of obstacles. Apathetic doctors, a callous bureaucratic government machinery and lack of awareness make life very difficult. Getting to school is even harder. In ‘special schools’, the quality of education and attitude towards the disabled students remain dismal. If one somehow gets over all these hurdles, finding a job for a person with disability can be a traumatic experience. There are only a handful of organisations across sectors willing to accommodate the needs of the disabled or treat them as equals. The situation gets worse depending on the caste, class and gender of the person. But, even if you are privileged, you are still excluded and marginalised in one form or the other. The forms and ways of marginalisation may vary, but each adds to the everyday physical and psychological trauma. Though laws in themselves won’t change the society’s perception towards the disabled, they will definitely make life more dignified. By ensuring accessibility, promoting educational and job opportunities and preventing discrimination, the law can enable them to live a more fulfilling life. That, in turn could lead to a more visible and vocal disabled community, which may lead to a change in how they are treated and perceived in society. The implementation of an Act like RPWD would at least work towards a better future for the disabled. It would ensure that roads and buildings are accessible and if not, people can raise their voice against it on a legal forum. One of the more progressive aspects of the present law is that it makes harassment of a person with disability a crime. It also makes promises about livelihood and education. No matter how all this transcends on ground, this law will certainly enable persons with disability to assert themselves. This law is a small step in that direction, but it cannot be effective unless it is notified and implemented by all states. It is essential that states come on board and urgently notify rules according to the Act. By not doing so, they are not only being indifferent towards persons with disabilities, but are also robbing them of their basic human rights. (This article was originally published on The DNA. Read the original article) (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Implementation of RPWD Act is a step in empowerment

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Zee News Rajasthan

Editor

Abhishek Anicca

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