We live in the information age and the one who has more information has a definite advantage in this world. However it becomes a challenge to filter out the rumors and hoaxes from the true information, specially when you receive so many emails, sms, or you browse though internet and read all the stuff in the social networking sites, blogs, etc. The point is- in today’s world it is really easy to spread the information but it is difficult to check its authenticity. So it becomes utmost important that not only we share the correct information but also make sure that false information doesn’t easily get transmitted over the communication media. It’s a small effort from my side as a first step towards this. Here are the few things that i came across in the last few months:
1) 49-O Rule: This is what I saw in one of the mails sent to me : Did you know that there is a system in our constitution, in section ” 49-O” that a person can go to the polling booth, confirm his identity, get his finger marked and convey the presiding election officer that he doesn’t want to vote anyone!
Yes such a feature is available, but obviously these leaders have never
disclosed it.
This is called “49-O”.
Why should you go and say ” I VOTE NOBODY”… because, in a ward, if a candidate wins, say by 123 votes, and that particular ward has received “49-O” votes more than 123, then that polling will be cancelled and will have to be re-polled. Not only that, but the candidature of the contestants will be removed and they cannot contest the re-polling, since people had already expressed their decision on them.
Sadly, this is not true. May be partially but not completely. First of all it’s not in our constitution. Rule 49-O is a rule in the Conduct of Election Rules, 1961 of India which says :
“If an elector, after his electoral roll number has been duly entered in the register of voters in Form-17A and has put his signature or thumb impression thereon as required under sub-rule (1) of rule 49L, decided not to record his vote, a remark to this effect shall be made against the said entry in Form 17A by the presiding officer and the signature or thumb impression of the elector shall be obtained against such remark.”
That’s all. It doesn’t say that the poll will be cancelled or contestants will be removed.
2) ATM Pin Number in Reverse Order : This one I received as a text message, sent to me by a well wisher.It said:
WHEN A THIEF FORCES YOU TO TAKE MONEY FROM THE ATM, DO NOT ARGUE OR RESIST, YOU MIGHT NOT KNOW WHAT HE OR SHE MIGHT DO TO YOU.
WHAT YOU SHOULD DO IS TO PUNCH YOUR PIN IN THE REVERSE, I.E IF YOUR PIN IS 1254, YOU PUNCH 4521.
THE MOMENT YOU PUNCH IN THE REVERSE, THE MONEY WILL COME OUT BUT WILL BE STUCK INTO THE MACHINE HALF WAY OUT AND IT WILL ALERT POLICE WITHOUT THE NOTICE OF THE THIEF.EVERY ATM HAS IT, IT IS SPECIALLY MADE TO SIGNIFY DANGER AND HELP.
WHAT YOU SHOULD DO IS TO PUNCH YOUR PIN IN THE REVERSE, I.E IF YOUR PIN IS 1254, YOU PUNCH 4521.
THE MOMENT YOU PUNCH IN THE REVERSE, THE MONEY WILL COME OUT BUT WILL BE STUCK INTO THE MACHINE HALF WAY OUT AND IT WILL ALERT POLICE WITHOUT THE NOTICE OF THE THIEF.EVERY ATM HAS IT, IT IS SPECIALLY MADE TO SIGNIFY DANGER AND HELP.
I wish it was true but then who would bear the cost of such technology. Banks? Not possible, specially in a country where you have ATMs at every doorstep. That would make police’s job-insurmountable. Secondly, what about those who have symmetric four digit pin numbers. Something like 9889. Would they call the police everytime they inserted their ATM card. So basically it’s just another hoax and has no truth in it. It was an idea developed in USA long back but could not be implemented because of the above mentioned hindrances. In India it never happened.
3)Hindi- Our National Language: It’s not a common thread like the above two, but it is something that few of us(or many of us) are unaware of. Sadly again, I heard it in an MLA’s speech who said:
…Hindi is our national language and we need to respect it …
The truth is different. India is a country which doesn’t have a national language. Neither the Constitution of India nor Indian law specifies a National language. India specifies Hindi and English as official languages of the India de jure. Article 343 of the constitution specifies that the official language of the India is Hindi in Devanagari script. Article 354 states that a state of India may officially adopt one or more languages in use in the state or Hindi/English as the language or languages to be used for all or any of the official purposes of that state. God bless our politicians.
That’s all for now. I will keep posting on it, if i come across such nuisance again and I expect the same little effort from my readers too. Otherwise, India might soon become a country of ignorants!
Deepak Rana 