Fwd: CERI Conference Kerala-Hindu Report

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Subject: Fwd: CERI Conference Kerala-Hindu Report
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Subject: CERI Conference Kerala-Hindu Report
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Hindu report on CERI Conference-Kerala=============================================================This article has been sent to you by K.Ambujakshan ambujakshank@gmail.com
==============================

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Source: The Hindu (http://www.hinduonnet.com/2010/05/24/stories/2010052457830400.htm)
Kerala
 -
Kochi
&nbsp;&nbsp;

CERI presents case for revamp of electoral system




Special Correspondent




Forum pitches for shift to proportional representation




Says no political space now forthe marginalisedIn PR, party needs 50% votes to form government



KOCHI: The Campaign for Electoral Reforms in India (CERI), which roots for an overhaul of the country's electoral system, has called for a switchover to the proportional representation (PR) system with a 50 per cent representation for women.
The campaigners, at a two-day State conference, claimed that the current majoritarian representation had proved unfit for India with its multi-cultural, multi-linguistic and multi-ethnic social landscape.
The current system, they said, did not give myriad social groups, marginalised communities, the Dalits and the Adivasis the political space they deserved.
So, the marginalised communities cannot participate in the country's governance.
Case of Europe
They pointed out that world over there was an ongoing movement in favour of proportional representation (an electoral system where the number of legislative seats allotted to a party will be in proportion to the number of total votes it has won in the elections.)
A large number of European countries, such as Germany, Norway and the Netherlands, followed the proportional representation system which had proved superior to the British and American systems which were based on the first-past-the-post method.
The CERI functionaries pointed out that in this system, only the party which could gain a minimum of 50 per cent popular votes could form a government.
Now, even those parties which got only 30 per cent of the votes could capture government.
Better representation
In the system, the parties could take parliamentary or Assembly seats only in proportion to the number of popular votes they received.
The Dalits, Adivasis, minorities and women will be amply represented in this system., according to the f orum.
CERI national convener Archana Casmere said in the proportional representation system there would be no room for muscle and money power in elections and the State would bear the electioneering expenses.
10-year campaign
CERI Kerala coordinator K. Ambujakshan said the campaign would go on for ten years by which time it hopes to educate the public and convince the polity about the advantages of the system.

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M C Raj
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