A bill to grant voting rights to NRI's is likely to come before the Cabinet for approval soon.Official sources confirmed that a Group of Ministers (GoM) headed by the Defence Minister has cleared the draft bill .The move to allow NRI participation in the democratic process will further boost the two-way engagement and help them actively participate in India's growth story.<br/><br/>The clearance by the GOM, came months after the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, while addressing the Pravasi Bhartiya Divas earlier this year had said he recognised the legitimate desire of Indians living abroad to exercise their franchise and to have a say in the governance of India. The Government had moved the bill in Rajya Sabha in 2006 proposing amendments to the Representation of People's Act to make provision for voting rights to non-resident Indians. The bill was then sent to a Parliamentary Standing Committee and later to the GoM.<br/><br/>AIR correspondent reports after approval from parliament the proposed amendments will allow an Indian citizen residing abroad to enroll in voter's list and exercise the franchise even if he or she remained away from place of<br/>residence in India for more than six months owing to their employment, education or otherwise.However, the person will be able to exercise the franchise only if he or she is present in the constituency on the polling day.