Impact of Technocratic Changes on Electoral Rolls and MGNREGA Beneficiary Rights
The article critiques the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and the mandatory Aadhaar-based payment system (ABPS) in MGNREGA. It argues that shifting the responsibility of inclusion from the state to the individual leads to mass disenfranchisement and loss of livelihoods. In MGNREGA, nearly 27 lakh workers were deleted from the database due to administrative pressure to achieve 100% Aadhaar linking, often without proper verification. Similarly, the SIR exercise for electoral rolls requires voters to match names with old records, potentially excluding migrants and the homeless. These 'technocratic adventures' are seen as a violation of constitutional morality and the right to inclusion.
Key Points
- Section 19 of the Representation of the People Act, 1950, defines 'ordinarily resident' for voter enrollment, which is being challenged by new revision methods.
- The shift to Aadhaar-based payments in MGNREGA has led to the deletion of millions of workers' job cards on grounds of being 'unwilling to work'.
- The National Mobile Monitoring System (NMMS) app for attendance has faced criticism for technical glitches and excluding vulnerable workers.
- The article calls for social audits as an alternative to rigid technocratic systems to ensure constitutional rights are protected.
Exam Facts
- Section 19, Representation of the People Act, 1950: Governs voter registration criteria.
- MGNREGA Deletions: Approximately 27 lakh deletions in one month due to administrative pressure for Aadhaar linking.
- NMMS: National Mobile Monitoring System app for digital attendance in rural works.
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