Voting rights

EDITORIAL

There are an estimated 2 million Nepalese migrants working abroad, and the Election Commission is mulling over providing them with the right to exercise their franchise. Considering the substantial contribution they are making to the socio-economic sector of their native country, this right cannot be denied. At present, there is no such arrangement being made for the Nepali migrants abroad for education, business and also employment purposes. It is high time a feasibility study was made so that the migrant workers would be allowed to participate in the voting process as they are Nepali citizens and should not be deprived of their right to vote. However, according to the EC, as much as Rs. 3 billion has to be spent for registering the voters who number around 11 million which is a huge sum of money. More money would have to be allocated to permit the migrant workers to vote. The country has to guarantee their voting rights considering the important role that they are playing as the remittances they send is substantial to the economy. Also the EC has made it known that there is a need to amend the law which permits only those possessing Nepali citizenship certificates to participate in the polls. The provision has to amended so that those with Nepali passports alone could also take part in the hustings, as most of the migrant labour force do not have the citizenship papers with them but only their passports.

The EC has conducted studies on enabling the migrant workers to take part in the elections focusing particularly on the Philippines, Thailand and South Korea. It appears that in the Philippines only a few number of such eligible voters exercised their voting rights and similar was the case in Thailand. However, in technologically advanced South Korea, the bid to permit the migrant voters worked out alright. These examples show that in Nepal, which is not very technologically advanced and impoverished, enabling the migrant workers to exercise their voting rights is an uphill task. Though the costs are high, it should be done.

Considering that now the country in all probability would be holding polls in the near future, the Nepalese people are looking forward eagerly to

exercise their franchise. The Nepali migrants workers abroad are very concerned about the political

and socio-economic condition of the country. They contribute immensely to the economy in the form

of remittances which has become one of the largest source of earning for Nepal. They are also known

to be keenly following the politics of their native country which is not looking up. And, it is only through elections that things could be made

to change, and in this they should also be

participants as Nepali citizens. Moreover, there are tens of thousands of Nepali migrants working in the foreign countries illegally. They should also be tracked down and the necessary procedures should be undertaken to discourage such illegal migrants and make them migrate legally. The EC, thus, faces the challenges in making the necessary arrangements to make the Nepali Diaspora able to participate in the elections enthusiastically.

Love your heart

It’s amazing the way the number of obese people in the Kathmandu valley is on the increase. Maybe the changes in the dietary habits of a sizeable population is in some way linked to this phenomenon. In addition, the lack of proper exercise has contributed to being overweight a growing trend. The junk-food culture has made its presence felt quite glaringly. With rich oily and spicy food the ingredient is readymade to embark on the obesity trail. And combined with smoking and alcoholism, the heart stands to suffer the most. Only by keeping the heart healthy will life move on without much complications.

But, studies show that heart patients have increased by five times in ten years. And if right steps with diet and exercise are not included in daily life, the heart remains at much risks from strokes, heart attack and kidney failure. That makes it clear that the general people are not paying much attention to protecting their heart. With obesity gaining on or rather risky gluttony picking up, the roadmap is clear that heart patients are bound to grow rapidly. It’s high time to think of the heart.