[Reader-list] Scrap EVM's,lets go back to ballot say Advani.

[Taha Mehmood]

Dear All

Now here's what I would like to call an interesting development.

The BJP leader LK Advani who many would say introduced the idea of
national identity card in India is saying that electronic voting
machines are no good and appeals to everyone concerned that ballots
based voting should be introduced.

This issue here is similar to identity cards.

There was a system in place. The process involved to run that system
was manual. Learned arguments were made to change that system to
electronic voting machines. These arguments ran simultaneously with
often tried and tested arguments about the new electronic voting
machines would be efficient, would ease out corrupt practices, would
negate the erring human element, would result in a highly transparent
and a quick system of garnering votes.

Much like arguments which are now being made in favor of MNIC.

How MNIC would ease burdensome red-tapism, how MNIC would introduce an
element of efficiency, How data collection and classification would
hasten, How the 'burden' of carrying multiple cards would be thing of
the past and so on.

However, could one expect opposition parties of the future to demand
that national identity cards be scrapped, in the light of perceived
failure of such of scheme?

One of the arguments being made is how UIDAI 's infusion of funds will
act as 'stimulus pacakage' for the IT industry. The argument from the
government's side is that about one hundred thousand new jobs could be
availed in the IT enabled sector. That is fine and appreciable on part
of the government to think of people in the IT sector.

But why 'stimulate' IT sector now? They had their chance and they blew
it up. Why should the GOI take its role of reviving one private sector
alone with such focused spending of public money so seriously? Isn't
the IT sector has already garnered enough subsidies in terms of tax
breaks, cheap land and so on? Why does it needs to be pampered so
much? Why not let the invisible hand take over?

Isn't the creation of UIDAI and its foundational logic to redistribute
1.5 Lakh crore not a clear case of subsidizing a sector?
Redistribution of public money to few private players.

IT sector is a oligarchic in nature. Few players dominate the market.
Why is no one saying now, let 'market forces' take over? Why is no one
saying now that let market decide what is best for the industry? Why
should the people of India support a white elephant? Why gift the IT
sector a ready-made market of 30 BIllion dollars?

What is so special about these software companies anyways?

Regarding the projected employment of a lakh of people by money spent
by UIDAI, was there ever a cost benefit analysis done to assess how
many people could be employed if this scale of money were to be
invested in housing, which is a labor intensive industry?

Or has any one assessed how many people could be employed if such a
money could be infused in agriculture sector as subsidies? A person
like P. Sainath would like to argue that it was the agricultural
subsidy of around 30 billion dollars in the US which let to suicides
of a lakh of farmers in India.

Therefore if the overarching argument for the introduction of such a
scheme is that good of all must be maximized then whose 'good' is the
Government of India  seems to be deeply concerned about in creation of
UIDAI and appointment of Nandan Nilekani?

Advani wants ballot to be re-introduced at a time when GOI wants EVIC
to be history. Isn't Advani seems to be getting extremely confused as
an opposition leader? Confused about his role. Confused about his
responsibilities and confused about the historic opportunity that he
seems to have in his hand to resurrect the BJP as a responsible center
right party of India.

Please follow the link below for Advani's  statement about
re-introducing the ballot.

http://ibnlive.in.com/videos/96370/scrap-evms-lets-go-back-to-ballot-says-advani.html

Warm regards

Taha