Imphal, October 10 2009: Maintaining that exclusivity of the system of democracy being followed in India today has numerous shortfalls, former Minister Dr M Nara stressed on the need to bring about an electoral reforms in the country so as to do justice to the minority groups as well.

Speaking at the first CERI (Campaign for Electoral Reforms in India) Day observance held at Manipur Press Club here today, Dr Nara, who was the chief guest of the function, asserted that inspite of India being proud of itself as the largest democratic country in the world, voices of resentment are being heard from within.

While the rights as well as voices of the people are being subdued with money and muscle power during elections, the so call representative of the people are getting less number of votes than those defeated in a multi-cornered contest.

Such a system would never be able to do justice to the people, he said.

It has been for long that many people have been debating over the failure of the existing democratic system in India.

So the senior citizens should play a major role in bringing about a reform to the existing electoral system, Dr Nara said.

Organised under the aegis of CERI Manipur Chapter, the observance function was presided over by Prof Sadananda.

In his presidential address, Prof Sadananda asserted that Indian democracy has become a farce today and inspite of knowing this, everyone is still into it.

This is really unfortunate.

It is high time to look for an alternative system, he added.

Earlier, delivering the key note address, convenor of CERI Manipur Chapter Babloo Loitongbam pointed out that the Campaign for Electoral Reforms, India is a campaign which would go on for 10 years.

During the course of the campaign, various aspects of the existing democratic system in India as well as the opinions and suggestions of the people what type of Parliamentary election should be adopted in India would be discussed thoroughly.

The observance of CERI Day began since last year.

The present procedure of conducting election in India though it is said to be democratic could not ensure the taste of democracy to all the people.

The present democratic system in India has no place for those in the minority while favouring the wealthy and powerful class.

So the aspiration of the small groups and people are not respected in the present system.

He further pointed out that in the present system of election, representatives of the people from every Constituencies are being elected on the basis of 27 percent of votes they get.

This clearly indicate that the remaining 73 percent have not supported the elected representative.

So how such a system could ensure the real taste of democracy to the people ?, he questioned.

Former Minister Prof Gangmumei Kamei, research scholar of Manipur University Bijiya Lakshmi Verma and senior lecturer of YK College Dr S Birahari were among the resource persons who spoke at the occasion.

Apart from convenor of CERI Manipur Chapter Babloo Loitongbam presenting the preliminary report on the research findings of CERI on the semi parliamentary election of Norway, photographs of Norway were also displayed at the occasion.

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