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Voter-list with photo, fingerprints in offing
KATHMANDU, APR 21 -
The government is to introduce a new recording system of the voter-list with photos and fingerprints.
With different reports questioning the fairness of the election system coming to light, officials at the Election Commission (EC) say that this system will come as a boon in tackling problems. According to the plan, voter’s photo and their finger prints will be registered digitally.
“This is a very tangible system that will prevent the voters from voting more than once,” said Nil Kantha Upreti, Acting Election Commissioner. “We can easily track those trying to vote multiple time from different places in the name of friends or relatives.”
The government aims to launch the project in the coming Nepali month of Jestha. According to estimates, it will take Rs. 3.61 billion to complete the project. At least 25,000 enumerators will be mobilised for the completion of the project.
Only Rs. 515 million has been generated so far with the assistance of DANIDA HOUGOU, Peace Trust and DFID. EC spokesman Rajendra Sharma said the amount allocated so far is enough to start the initial work. “The rest of the money will be generated later and the project will be completed on time,” he said.
Meanwhile, this project also includes the government’s plan of providing National Identity Cards to citizens above 16 years old, simultaneously.
While going for the collection of voter-list, the enumerators will also collect details and photos of all citizens above 16 years. As per the government law, citizens above 18 years will be automatically registered on the voter list and in case of over 16 years and below 18 years of age the government will use the information to keep records for making National Identity Cards. For this, citizens will have to show their citizenship certificate while registering their details.
“The government will have to spend a huge amount of money if the project is launched separately. Therefore, both projects will be completed in the same budget,” said EC secretary Yagya Prasad Gautam. The project has been divided into three phases — the first phase starting from Jestha-Ashar which will cover 19 mountainous districts, the second phase from Ashar-Bhadra that will cover 55 municipalities and the third phase from Aswin-Magh 15 which will cover the rest of the districts and VDCs.
The government’s pilot study regarding this system is on in seven VDCs of five districts since the last two weeks, including Sitapaila in Kathmandu.
Meanwhile, the government has sought assistance from the Indian government and its Election Commission for electronic voting machines for the next election. According to EC, diplomatic initiatives in this regard have started and the electronic voting machines are expected to cost US$ 28.5 million.
Posted on: 2010-04-22 08:17
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