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What's the point of Aadhaar if one can't vote? -Ankita Lahiri
-Governance Now


In spite of having Aadhaar as well as PAN card, many migrants in south Delhi's Sangam Vihar could not get a voter's card, and will not be able to vote

Many residents of Sangam Vihar, a constituency in south Delhi with migrants from Bihar and Uttar Pradesh in majority, will not be able to exercise their franchise in the Delhi assembly elections. They do not have voter cards despite repeated attempts, as the authorities have told them the documents they furnish are not sufficient.

These are residents who have been based in the colony for nearly a decade, but are still struggling to get that that identity card that will enable them to vote.

This, when they have been able to get Aadhaar numbers for themselves without much problem. Establishing your identity, thus, can get you the welfare doles of the state but not the right to vote. Girish has been living in A-Block in Sangam Vihar for four years. The state has not been able to give him access to drinking water or quality health care services, and yet (or possibly because of that), he wants to vote and participate in the democratic process.

"I have applied for a voter's card three-four times. The last time I went for it, they asked me to come back after a week. I leave all my work and go. I lose an entire day's wages, but all I get to hear is: come back later." He, however, did not face similar problems in getting his Aadhaar card earlier this year. But the documents he produced for that card - an electricity bill in his landlord's name along with his lease agreement - have proved insufficient for the election card.

For the Sangam Vihar residents who have not been able to get a voter card, it is not even the question of producing the proof of residence; the problem, they allege, is of bribery.

For Radha, who runs a tea stall in D-Block, the matter ends at bribe. "I still do not have a voter's card. Mera Aadhaar card toh ban gaya, lekin voter card nahi ban paaya. (My Aadhaar card got made but not my voter identity card). I even have a PAN card. Every time I go to the SDM's (sub-divisional magistrate's) office and produce the documents, they say these are not the right documents and throw them away in the bin. But people there say that give us Rs 1,000-2,000, and we will get you enrolled right away."

Most of the residents in the area live on rent. The proof of resident they can produce is usually a utility bill in the name of the landlord, along with the lease agreement on the stamp paper. But the authorities do not consider the two as proofs. That leaves residents like Radha confused: if they served the purpose for Aadhaar, why can't they be good for a voter's card?

Of course, Aadhaar and the voter's card have different purposes: one is to establish identity alone, and is meant for all ‘residents' of India, whereas the other is meant for the adult citizens. Radha and others approached the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), perceived to be closer to the people and helpful in redressing their grievances, to get their names on electoral rolls. The party failed to help Radha, but managed to get Rita, a resident of B Block, and her family enrolled. "AAP got our voter's card made. Our card was made on the basis of my husband's bank account statement copy," the resident says.

For the residents who are still struggling to get themselves enrolled, the process of getting a voter's card is a long drawn one, where they have to devote entire days to chasing the authorities. As they face hardships and governance failures day in and day out, the voter card for them might be nothing more than an identity card and that purpose now is better served by the Aadhaar, which is easier to get too. No wonder many are content with that.

"What is the point of getting my voter card made, when I do not want to vote? I have my Aadhaar card. That is enough," reasons Bharti of F-2 Block.