Livelihood holds back migrants

Many will not vote in the upcoming elections

April 17, 2014 12:39 pm | Updated May 21, 2016 11:50 am IST - COIMBATORE:

Mukesh, a migrant Bihari worker in a small-scale unit in Coimbatore is among those staying away from their native place during elections. Photo: K. Ananthan

Mukesh, a migrant Bihari worker in a small-scale unit in Coimbatore is among those staying away from their native place during elections. Photo: K. Ananthan

Govind Kumar (18) is from Bihar. He is working in Tamil Nadu for the last one year with many others from his State. If he had been at home, he would have probably enrolled his name in the voters’ list and cast his vote for the first time. However, since he is here, he does not have a voter ID card either here or in Bihar and is not casting his vote.

Prakash (22) is also from Bihar. He is working at the industries here for more than five years and does not have his name enrolled in the voters’ list in his hometown. Hence, he is not going home to cast his vote.

Mukesh (22), also from Bihar, has been working at a micro industry here for the last three years. He is enrolled as a voter back home and has an ID card. But he is not going home as his livelihood holds him back. It takes three days to go home and another three days to return. That runs up to a week’s leave, he says.

For hundreds of workers from other States, who are employed at the industries here, Lok Sabha election does not mean an opportunity to go home.

“There is better awareness among workers and employees on the Right to Vote. But those working here from other States do not seem to be going home in larger numbers,” says R.R. Balasundharan, president of the Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Coimbatore.

A micro unit owner here says that some migrant workers have gone home. They have taken leave for more than a week and have gone to do election work for parties in their villages. Many are not going as it means spending money and taking leave from work for a long time.

An election official here says that workers from other States will have their names enrolled in the voters’ list in their hometown.

However, even if a worker is here for more than six months, he or she can enrol here as a voter. Awareness campaigns are conducted to educate the workers on their Right to Vote. Then it is their decision, says the official.

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