Question

In 1947, our literacy rate was about 14 per cent, only about 8 per cent among women. Some argued that the right to vote should be given only to literate people. Discuss in your group why the Constitution makers may have decided on universal franchise from the time of Independence itself.

Answer 1

The Constitution makers may have decided on Universal Adult Franchise from the time of independence to:

• Voting is a right, not a reward for being educated.
• Many poor and uneducated people had contributed to India’s freedom struggle and deserved an equal say in the new democracy.
• Limiting voting to literate people would have excluded a large part of the population, especially women and rural communities.
• Universal franchise promoted equality and social justice.
• It gave every adult citizen the opportunity to choose their representatives and influence government policies.
• The Constitution makers believed that democracy itself would help people become more aware and politically responsible over time.