With the State Government allotting election duties to the employees of various departments for the April 11 Lok Sabha election slated in the state, the employees have demanded to be exempted from the poll duties in a letter written to the district election officer. They say that the process would delay repairing and construction works for many days. Besides, the functioning of the transport department might be adversely affected. It is also being said that the transport corporation would incur losses due to the employees being sent on election duty.
The officers of Parivahan Nigam- transport corporation- have asked to be relieved of the election duty proposed for the forthcoming LS poll. They cited the inconvenience to the tourists as well as financial losses the transport department might incur thanks to the poll duty allotted to them. They further reasoned in the letter that the clerical staff of the department should be spared the poll duty. As per the logic presented by them, if the clerical staffers are engaged in poll duty it would cripple bus service, for it is they who keep the public transportation moving. They say that the drivers and the conductors take the busses on the roads following the clearance given by the clerical staffers.
It is learnt that the election duties imposed on the department officials would continue till counting of votes is completed. It is said that this would hold up works undertaken by public works department, municipal corporation and Jal Sansthan.
It is further learnt that earlier, just four people used to be deputed for the election duty from the transport corporation. But this time, it is 46 employees being engaged in the duty which would continue till the votes are counted. Similarly, 185 out of 300 employees from Jal Sansthaan have been allotted with election duty. Besides, 110 from public works department and 109 from municipal corporation have been given the election duty, raising the apprehension of the functioning of these departments being put into jeopardy.
