Voting age – 16 years

A voting age is a minimum age established by law that a person must attain in order to be eligible to vote in a public election. The vast majority of countries in the world have established a voting age considering that those of an age lower than the chosen threshold lack the necessary capacity to independently decide how to cast a vote. The voting age is often of such importance that it is set by means of a constitutional provision.

In the past, voting age used to be 21. In the 1970s, widespread reform led to a reduction to 18 in a large number of countries. As of now, the voting age across the world is typically 18. In some countries, however, the voting age is different depending upon whether the person is married, employed or educated. In some countries, at 16, one can choose a career and pay taxes, leave home, join the armed forces, and make lots of decisions about one’s future. At 16, persons were taught how to become citizens but they are denied the chance to put it into practice.

Debate is currently underway in many countries on proposals to reduce the voting age below 18, in view of the availability of vast knowledge base, such as internet at early age, and increased exposure of the young ones to the outside world. In order to encourage young people to take part in democracy and take crucial decisions on the destiny of their country, the basic right of the citizens should not be denied beyond the age of 16 years. Recently, Austria set an example by lowering the voting age to 16 years. For that matter, the eligibility to get a driving license should also be lowered to 18 years.

Bio-fuel policy - India

Government of India is planning to discuss in the cabinet the bio-fuel policy, by which a National Bio-fuel Coordination Committee headed by the Prime Minster himself. The high power committee is expected to give the necessary impetus to support the growth of this sector hoping to serve about 10% of the total transport fuel demand through bio-fuels by 2017. Many countries now use a mix of fossil fuel and bio-fuel from environmental considerations. Oil is also becoming dearer by the day.

The other side of the story is not very encouraging. Right now, the world is going through a phase of acute food shortage. The bio-fuel crops are grown in preference to the food crops in view of the better monetary gains. Corn crops are diverted to make bio-fuels, mainly ethanol.

There should be regulatory infrastructure to over-see the bio-fuel production, pricing and supply across different states in the country. Government should ensure that farm land should not used to produce crops for bio-fuels. Food crops should be given priority over the production of bio-fuel crops. Already the countries like US are blaming India for food shortage world-wide. It is wise to watch the situation for a while before India joins the controversial bio-fuel band-wagon in a big way.