Lok Sabha Question No. 1379 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-11-23
Subject: Online Survey for Overseas Indian Citizens
Ministry: LAW AND JUSTICE
Asked by: SUDHEER GUPTA, T. RADHAKRISHNAN, VIJAY KUMAR S.R., GAJANAN CHANDRAKANT KIRTIKAR, KUNWAR HARIBANSH SINGH, BIDYUT BARAN MAHATO, SUNIL BALIRAM GAIKWAD

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF LAW AND JUSTICE LEGISLATIVE DEPARTMENT

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1379

## TO BE ANSWERED ON WEDNESDAY, 23 rd NOVEMBER, 2016

## ONLINE SURVEY FOR OVERSEAS INDIAN CITIZENS

## 1379.    SHRI SUDHEER GUPTA:

SHRI T. RADHAKRISHNAN:

SHRI S.R. VIJAYAKUMAR:

SHRI GAJANAN KIRTIKAR:

KUNWAR HARIBANSH SINGH:

SHRI BIDYUT BARAN MAHATO:

DR. SUNIL BALIRAM GAIKWAD:

Will the Minister of LAW AND JUSTICE be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether  the  Election  Commission  of  India  has  initiated  an  online  survey  for
- Overseas  Indian  Citizens  in  collaboration  with  Tata  Institute  of  Social  Sciences (TISS) recently;
- (b) if so, the details thereof along with the aims and objectives of the survey;
- (c)  the  terms  and  conditions  of  the  survey  along  with  the  expenditure  involved therein; and
- (d) the steps taken/being taken by the Government to campaign said survey among
- the Overseas Indian Citizens?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR LAW AND JUSTICE AND ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (SHRI P.P.CHAUDHARY)

- (a): Yes, Madam.
- (b) to (d): The Election Commission has informed that the objective of the survey is to  assess the level of awareness among the Overseas Indians about the registration

and the voting process especially in view of the amendment to the Representation of the  People  Act,  1950  w.e.f.  10 th February,  2011  making  special  provisions  for citizens of India residing outside the country to get enrolled in the electoral roll. The survey is  also  meant  as  an  outreach  measure  to  engage with  the  Overseas Indians through  an  online  competition  linked  with  the  survey,  so  as  to  attract  maximum participation in the survey.

The  terms  and  conditions  and  scope  of  work, inter-alia, include  placing advertisements in social media such as facebook, twitter, you tube etc. in the form of videos/banners  specifically  targeting  Overseas  Indians  holding  Indian  Passport, drawing their attention to a major exercise being undertaken to reach out to them. The approximate expenditure involved is Rs.33 Lakh.

Regarding steps taken/being taken to promote the said survey, the Commission has informed that the Chief Election Commissioner has written a letter to Hon ' ble Minister, External Affairs for major support from the Ministry of External Affairs for the successful execution of the Online Survey, requesting, inter-alia, that:

- (a) Ministry of External Affairs (MEA)'s website may carry the link www.everyvotecounts.in. India Perspective magazine for NovemberDecember edition  may  also  publicise  the  survey  cum  competition  to  garner maximum response.
- (b)MEA's twitter  handle may  tweet  about  this  special  initiative  targeted  at  the Overseas Indian citizens.
- (c) The Indian Missions in the 11 countries that comprise 94% of the NRIs may carry the link for the survey portal on their website at a prominent place on its home  page  and  encourage  eligible  people  to  participate  in  the  survey  and competition.

The Indian Missions have also been requested by the Commission separately to promote the survey and competition besides the concept of electoral participation in various functions and engagements that it carried out for the Overseas Indians in the month of November, 2016.

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