The State government's notification on Monday declaring the Election Day in Karnataka on May 10 as a 'Paid Holiday' for eligible workers in Goa to vote has triggered a storm, with the industrial sector reacting sharply against the decision. The Goa Chamber of Commerce and Industries said it would set a wrong precedent and feared holidays henceforth would be given for all elections in neighbouring states. The Goa State Industries Association, too, slammed the decision terming it "absolutely absurd and stupid" and said the government is holding industries to ransom for electoral gains.
The government swiftly justified the move by quoting Section 135-B of the Representation of People's Act, 1951. It cited the law that every person employed in any business trade, industrial sector or other enterprise is entitled to vote during a Legislative Assembly election and should be granted a holiday. The government also referred to instances where Maharashtra and Karnataka issued similar notifications during elections in Goa.
Voting is a constitutional right of every citizen upon which the very foundation of democracy rests. It will be a grave injustice if this basic right is denied to citizens on the mere premise they are migrants or constitute the working class of another State.
On the flip side, Goa is mainly dependent on the migrant labour force. The fiery reaction from industry heads amplifies just that. An exodus will hit industrial productivity, and the impact will be felt across Goa. The constitutional right forms one part of the discourse, and productivity and economic fallout, the other.
It is to be borne in mind that in modern Goa, the migrant workforce plays a crucial role and has been steering the wheels of industries and Goa's economy. Today, most bread sellers, fish vendors, fruit sellers and small traders are non-Goans. Most of Goa's migrants are from Karnataka, followed by Maharashtra, and Goa felt the vacuum when the State entered a Covid lockdown, and migrants retreated to their hometowns.
The BJP is leaving no stone unturned in this election, and the State government's decision could be to explore every electoral opportunity. However, there should have been a more prudent approach given the situation. The government should have explored options of using an Electronically Transmitted Postal Ballot System, postal ballots for migrants, or remote electronic voting machines. It may be recalled that last November when the matter of voting rights to NRIs and migrants came up before the Supreme Court, the Advocate General assured the bench that every step would be undertaken to see that migrant labourers are made part of the entire electoral exercise and every facility shall be extended which will also ensure the confidentiality of the election.
While the industry's anger over the decision, even if it is over a single-day holiday, explains Goa's dependence on migrant labour and demonstrates the relevance of "Swayampurna Goa" and the need to be self-reliant. In the cross-fire over constitutional rights and a labour crisis, we must understand the grim reality that Goa faces and cautiously work our way forward.
