Hyderabad

Concerns over the continuation of voting rights for nearly 15 lakh Gulf workers and Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) from Telangana during the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls were raised during a meeting between Congress representatives from the Gulf region and Transport and BC Welfare Minister Ponnam Prabhakar.

A delegation comprising Sutari Satyanarayana Patel and Manda Bheem Reddy met the Minister at the MLA camp office in Husnabad on Sunday, to discuss measures required to ensure that the names of Gulf workers and NRIs remain on the electoral rolls despite their residence abroad.

The representatives expressed concern that thousands of overseas Telangana residents could face difficulties in maintaining their voter registration during the revision process. They stressed the need for extensive awareness campaigns to educate expatriates about voter registration, verification, and correction procedures.

The delegation suggested organising online awareness programmes through Zoom meetings and social media platforms to reach Telangana citizens living in Gulf countries and other parts of the world. Such initiatives, they said, would help eligible voters understand the procedures and safeguard their democratic rights.

During the discussions, participants underscored the significant contribution made by overseas Telangana residents and Gulf workers to the state’s economy and development.