Invitation
for CERI -
November
9-10, 2009
Posted by: "Pradeep
Esteves" pradeepesteves@gmail.com
pradeepesteves
Sat Oct 31, 2009
9:40 pm (PDT)
*
Campaign for Electoral Reforms in India
(CERI) A Campaign for
Proportionate Electoral System in India Karnataka State Conference 2009
at
Alliance Francaise, Thimmaiah Road, Vasanthnagar, Bangalore
560052
On 9th and 10th November 2009
Invitation
To Friends in Karnataka
There is a growing consensus in India that the present Majoritarian
Electoral System does not fall in line with the type of democracy that
was
visualized at the time of India’s entry into a post colonial governance
of
the country. Dr. B R Ambedkar himself voiced it in 1955 when he passed
a
resolution to change the Electoral system of India to the one with
multimember constituency. It is common knowledge that today in India
political parties come to power with less than 30% of polled votes
leaving
out a vast majority of voters unrepresented both in the State
Assemblies and
in the Indian Parliament. Even in this situation the percentage of
votes
that a party gains does not truly represent the number of seats that
they
gain. Thus many parties in India with less percentage of votes come to
power
by virtue of the number of seats that they gain. This is a virtual
democratic anomaly that we witness today. Practically this situation
leaves
the doors wide open for corruption, horse-trading, communalism and
goondaism. This also results in the growing apathy of voters. More and
more
voters, especially from the middle classes do not want to participate
in
elections as they do not see the value of their vote in its
representation.
Many countries in the world have already reformed their electoral
system
towards a Proportionate electoral System which distributes seats in the
Assemblies and Parliament according to the percentage of votes that a
party
gains in elections. This system also guarantees that each voter is
truly
represented in the Parliament even if the candidate that he voted for
does
not win elections. More and more countries are still in the process of
reforming their electoral systems so that democracy becomes more
representative of citizens. In our own doorsteps Nepal has already
adapted
the Proportionate Electoral System and has set an example in Asia for a
practice of more meaningful democracy.
A proportionate Electoral system in India will ensure that Dalits,
Adivasis,
Minorities and Women gain representation in the State Assemblies and
Parliaments according to their proportion and need not become objects
of
electoral manipulations. They will be liberated from their identity as
‘vote
banks’ and regain their citizen identity in its true sense. Such a
possibility for representation will also arrest the emergence of
fundamentalist, communal and caste forces as ruling parties through
their
nefarious electoral designs.
We are all deeply aware that India has its own complexities and
therefore,
will have to design a Proportionate Electoral System that will suit its
multi-ethnic and multi-cultural citizenship. The challenges are
enormous.
However, in the interest of democracy these challenges have to be
faced.
There are a few organizations and movement in India that focus on
removing
corruption in electoral practices in the name of electoral reforms.
While
such efforts are very noble and urgent there is a need to move much
beyond
corruption and place electoral reforms in true democratic perspectives.
Till now the following Programmes have already taken place in the
Campaign:
· International Conference – 2008
· National Conference
· State Conferences in Maharashtra, Manipur, Rajasthan and
Tamilnadu
· Research on German Electoral System in Germany
· Research on Norwegian Electoral system in Norway
· A book on Theory and Praxis of Politics
· CERI Day
· Training for potential resource persons
· Chapter of CERI started in Nepal
In the near future another International Conference will take place and
before the end of this year two more State Conferences will take place.
Karnataka Conference 2009
The State Conference of Karnataka has been planned for 09 and 10 of
November
2009 at the Alliance Francaise in Bangalore. The Conference will start
at 10
in the morning on 09 November and will end at 5.30 in the evening on 10
November 2009. Accommodation is arranged for those who need to stay in
Bangalore for the night of 09 November.
We have the pleasure of inviting you to be a part of the Karnataka
Conference 2009 of the Campaign for Electoral Reforms in India.
Conference Objective
1. The Conference will draw on scholarly critical analysis of the
existing First Past The Post electoral system in India, from Scholars,
Intellectuals and Political Practitioners.
2. It will also draw on the experiences of those sections of society
who
have either benefited or been deprived of due representation in the
present
electoral system.
3. There will be an input on the models of Proportionate Electoral
System
as practiced in Germany, Norway, New Zealand and Nepal.
4. The Conference then will move to search for an appropriate model of
Proportionate Electoral System for India.
5. The formation of a State Campaign Committee will be once of the
major
tasks of the Conference.
Please let us know of your availability in the Conference as soon as
you
receive this invitation. After we hear from you we shall let you know
of the
role you may possibly have to play in the Conference. We have
identified a
galaxy of resource persons and plan to provide a space for all to
express
themselves.
You may kindly confirm your participation with any one of the following
persons by calling them in their mobile.
Miss Archana – 9900985384
Mr. Gururaj - 9448849353
Mr. Manohar - 9632223460
Mrs. Anita Cheria – 9448484797
Mr. Pradeep - 9448802706
Thanking you in anticipation and looking forward to have a good time
during
the Conference.
Warm regards
Archana and Pradeep
For any clarifications Please contact:
Miss Archana Casmir
Coordinator CERI
Mobile: 9900985384
E-Mail: ceri.reds@gmail.com
Pradeep Esteves
Coordinator CERI Karnataka
Mobile: 9448802706
pradeepesteves@gmail.com
Pradeep Esteves
Context India,
# 79, 5th Street,
Bank Avenue,
Babusapalya,
HRBR Layout,
Bangalore 560 043.
Phone: 91-80-25420661
GSM: 9448802706
Critical Concerns
