Current Law regarding elections and qualifications as well as
disqualifications for members of State and Central legislative bodies is
listed in "The Representation of People Act, 1951"
We studied this rather simple law and have summarized the qualifications and disqualifications for members of state and Central Legislative Bodies in the following table:
You will notice that while the list of disqualifications is long, the list of qualifications is astoundingly short! At Choices we unanimously believe that literacy should be one of the qualifications for any candidate.
Consider these facts in support of our argument. The latest Census report indicates that the literacy rate in India is 74.04%. The lowest literacy rate is in Bihar and event here the literacy rate is 63.8%. In 1951 when the Representation of People Act was passed the literacy rate in India was 18%! At the time making literacy a qualification for the candidates could have been unfair but today when the literacy rate is above 70% and improving it makes sense that candidates who wish to lead the country should also have the drive and capability of at least making themselves literate!
Personally I think they should at least finish 10 years of schooling. After all if 74% of the average Indians can get themselves literate then I would expect something more from the candidates who want to govern the nation of these average common people. My argument (in my eyes) gets stronger when you consider that one does not need to go to school in his/her childhood to finish school in the Indian education system. A candidate (irrespective of age) can submit a certificate to the Govt. stating that he / she has never been to school and directly give the Board examinations for 10th grade.
What do you think? Do you expect as much from the candidates as I do? Do you expect them to be literate? Is it okay to be illiterate and be a Minister? Should they pass 10th standard before they can enter politics? what will be your Choice?
Let us know your thoughts and opinions.
We will discuss the disqualifications in next post. Keep reading...
We studied this rather simple law and have summarized the qualifications and disqualifications for members of state and Central Legislative Bodies in the following table:
You will notice that while the list of disqualifications is long, the list of qualifications is astoundingly short! At Choices we unanimously believe that literacy should be one of the qualifications for any candidate.
Consider these facts in support of our argument. The latest Census report indicates that the literacy rate in India is 74.04%. The lowest literacy rate is in Bihar and event here the literacy rate is 63.8%. In 1951 when the Representation of People Act was passed the literacy rate in India was 18%! At the time making literacy a qualification for the candidates could have been unfair but today when the literacy rate is above 70% and improving it makes sense that candidates who wish to lead the country should also have the drive and capability of at least making themselves literate!
Personally I think they should at least finish 10 years of schooling. After all if 74% of the average Indians can get themselves literate then I would expect something more from the candidates who want to govern the nation of these average common people. My argument (in my eyes) gets stronger when you consider that one does not need to go to school in his/her childhood to finish school in the Indian education system. A candidate (irrespective of age) can submit a certificate to the Govt. stating that he / she has never been to school and directly give the Board examinations for 10th grade.
What do you think? Do you expect as much from the candidates as I do? Do you expect them to be literate? Is it okay to be illiterate and be a Minister? Should they pass 10th standard before they can enter politics? what will be your Choice?
Let us know your thoughts and opinions.
We will discuss the disqualifications in next post. Keep reading...
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