(MENAFN- Muscat Daily) Several Indians in Oman have expressed disappointment at not being able to vote online as their country goes to polls from April 7 to May 12.
Some, on the other hand, are trying to schedule their vacations according to the voting period.
The Election Commission of India's rules state that overseas Indian residents have to be physically present in the constituencies they have been listed to vote. Dr Hisham Abdul Khader, associate professor of chemistry in the College of Sciences, Sultan Qaboos University, said, ''The Indian government should at least encourage online voting from the Gulf because a good number of NRIs reside here. They can make a large impact on the election results. No, I will not be able to go to vote as I have classes here.''
Sukant Mohanty, operations manager of BLS International, echoed Dr Khader's views. ''Even if I want to vote, I won't be able to leave office as work will be affected. It's not feasible to just fly home to vote.''
Some, like P M Jabir, community welfare secretary of the Indian Social Club, are planning their annual vacations during the polls so that they can vote. ''If the government wishes, it can provide voting facilities to Indians in any part of the world. I am planning my annual leave during the voting period,'' he said.
Prashanta Kumar Mohapatra, head of finance at Rimal Investment Holding Company, too is planning the same. ''Voting in the constituency I am listed in takes place on April 17. I hope to be there if work commitments allow.''
Damodaran, a government employee, expressed disappointment over not being able to avail leave for voting.
''I have not voted since I came to Oman over 20 years ago. It is a loss for me and for the country, because many like me won't be able to vote. It's time the Indian Embassy makes some arrangements.''
How NRIs can register to vote
-NRIs were given voting rights in 2010 through an amendment to the Representation of People Act
-Indian citizens overseas, who have not acquired citizenship of a foreign country, and have completed 18 years of age as on January 1 of the year can vote
-NRI voters need to register as voters and be physically present with their passports at the polling station
-Through the prescribed Form6A, overseas Indian voters can register with the Electoral Registration Officer (ERO) in the constituency under which their passport address falls
-The application can be submitted to the ERO in person or through post, attached with the documents required
-Form6Acan be downloaded from the Election Commission of India's website http:// eci.nic.in/eci/eci. It is also available at Indian missions a
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