Amartya Sen warns India’s electoral roll revision risks disenfranchising poor
Kolkata: Nobel laureate and renowned Indian economist Amartya Sen has expressed concerns over the ongoing special intensive revision (SIR) of electoral rolls by the Election Commission of India (ECI), warning that the exercise could end up disenfranchising a large number of poor and marginalised people.
According to Kashmir Media Service, speaking to reporters in Kolkata, Amartya Sen said while administrative reviews and periodic revisions are necessary, they must not come at the cost of fundamental rights. “Yes, it’s true that from time to time various procedural tasks need to be carried out. However, in doing so, one cannot create a ‘better system’ by trampling on the rights of the poor,” he said.
The 91-year-old economist emphasised the importance of a just and inclusive approach, pointing out that many individuals still lack proper documentation and, as a result, are often excluded from the electoral process. “Many people don’t have documents. Many cannot vote. If, in the name of trying to improve things a little, harm is caused to many, then that becomes a serious mistake,” Sen said.
The special intensive revision of electoral rolls has drawn criticism from opposition political parties and rights activists. More than 65 lakh enumeration forms were not included in the draft electoral rolls prepared as part of the first phase of SIR by the ECI in Bihar, bringing down the total number of around 7.9 crore registered voters to 7.24 crore.
Sen’s comments echo growing concerns that the SIR, without adequate safeguards, could lead to wrongful deletions of eligible voters from the rolls, an outcome that threatens the very foundation of democratic participation.
Globally acclaimed for his work on poverty, welfare, and justice, Sen warned that procedural exercises without adequate safeguards could hollow out the very foundation of democratic participation. “A just system must always protect those who are most vulnerable,” he said.
