SHILLONG, July 11 - Meghalaya Cabinet has approved a recommendation of the Commission on Centre-State Relations allowing people to enjoy their rights to vote in their �place of origin� and not where they �temporarily reside� to curb its impact on local population and increase social harmony.
This recommendation is part of the State Government�s multi-pronged strategy to improve governance and lessen the sense of insecurity among smaller indigenous tribal communities of the State which often created mistrusts.
�We are suggesting that people, the citizens of this nation must be allowed to enjoy their rights to franchise in their place of origin and not in the place where they temporarily reside or migrate for some of their professional activities,� Chief Minister Mukul Sangma said here yesterday.
There is a need for the Union Government to understand the basic factors which have an impact on the overall trust and mutual understanding between the migrants and the local population, he said.
Referring to the Election Commission�s notification stating that a temporary resident should be enumerated as a voter, the Chief Minister said, �This issue is one of the reasons to create that kind of �mistrust� between the local population and migrants.�
This is true for all States in the entire NE region, he said adding that a number of incidents are result of this mistrust.
The suggestion would be submitted to the Centre soon, he said. � PTI
