Unique website on J&K poll contestants
KT NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, Dec 15: A Delhi-based voluntary group has launsched a unique website www.EmpoweringIndia.org detailing information about candidates contesting for the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly.
The details include profiles, criminal backgrounds as well as assets to allow a voter to choose the best candidate.
"In 2002, the Election Commission of India was credited to have organised one of the fairest elections in J&K in decades.
This time in 2008, the people of the state seems to have expressed their confidence in the electoral process by voting in large numbers.
The turn out in the first five phases is reported to be around 60%.
This is all the more credible since the extremists had again called for a boycott of the elections, and despite a few untoward incidents, including a couple of unfortunate deaths," said Barun Mitra, director of Liberty Institute.
The Empowering India, an initiative of the Liberty Institute has digitised the the affidavits of the candidates regarding their assets, liabilities, educational qualifications, and criminal charges.
In addition, the web site has details of past elections, performance of political parties, impact of wealth of candidates on election results, success rate of candidates with criminal backgrounds, level of education etc to provide a one-stop According to Mitra, users can compare the declarations made by candidates in 2003 or 2004, and in the current elections.
"For instance one can compare the declaration of assets by chief minister of Delhi, Sheila Dikshit, in 2003 and 2008, or by former chief minister of Karnataka, Mr Kumaraswamy in 2004 and 2008," he added.
He said the website is aimed to encourage the voters to make more informed choice.
"Active participation in the democratic process is the best way to ensure that the popularly elected leaders are accountable and responsive to the citizens," he maintained.
About us | Advertise | Other Publications | Subscriptions | Weather | Letters | Send Mail Disclaimer: Information is being made available at this site purely as a measure of public facilitation.
While every effort has been made to ensure that the information hosted on this website is accurate CHAIRMAN: VED BHASIN Kashmir Times Group of Publications Edited, printed and published by Prabodh Jamwal Editor-in-Chief, The Kashmir Times, Residency Road, Jammu, J&K, INDIA.
Executive Editor: Anuradha Bhasin Jamwal E-Mail: vbhasin@sancharnet.in, jmt_prabodh@sancharnet.in