Demand to Ensure Voting Rights of Migrant Labour Voters in Chalisgaon Taluka
Chalisgaon (Dist. Jalgaon):
Global Banjara Astitva Foundation (NGO), Maharashtra State, has submitted a formal representation to the Hon. Tahsildar and Taluka Election Officer, Chalisgaon, demanding that migrant labour voters from tandas, wadas, and settlements in Chalisgaon Taluka be ensured their constitutional right to vote in the Gram Panchayat, Panchayat Samiti, and Zilla Parishad elections.
A large number of citizens belonging to the Banjara and tribal communities in Chalisgaon Taluka are poor labourers who migrate outside their villages every year around the Diwali season for sugarcane cutting work. These migrant workers generally return to their native villages during April–May. However, local body elections are often conducted during this migration period, resulting in many eligible voters being deprived of their voting rights despite their names being included in the electoral rolls.
The right to vote is a fundamental and universal right guaranteed by the Constitution of India. Denial of this right to citizens who migrate solely for livelihood reasons undermines democratic values. Low voter turnout caused by such exclusion raises serious concerns regarding transparency and fair representation in the electoral process.
In this context, Global Banjara Astitva Foundation has demanded the following measures through its representation:
Separate identification and registration of migrant voters from tandas and settlements,
Consideration of the sugarcane migration period while planning election schedules,
Provision of special voting facilities or advance voting options for migrant voters, and
Implementation of special voter awareness campaigns in tandas and migrant settlements to increase electoral participation.
The Foundation expressed confidence that these measures would enable poor, migrant, and marginalized citizens to exercise their voting rights with dignity and would further strengthen democratic processes.
The representation was submitted in the presence of Ashok Ganesh Rathod, Founder President; Aarti Mahale, Vice President; Dinkar Rathod, Former Cooperative Society Chairman; Namo Tai Rathod, Women Social Activist; Rahul Rathod; Dr. Mahendrasing Rathod, Former Sarpanch; Gokul Patil, Ex-Serviceman; Sanjay Sonawane, Journalist, along with several local citizens.
