Voters in Jamshedpur to receive paid leave on Election Day

Jamshedpur: In an effort to ensure maximum voter participation in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, District Election Officer Ananya Mittal has issued a directive granting a paid holiday for all employees on the day of voting. This order, in line with the Election Commission of India’s instructions, aims to facilitate the participation of every eligible voter in the electoral process.

The paid holiday on May 25th, 2024, will apply to all employees in the East Singhbhum district, encompassing government offices, non-government offices, private enterprises, institutions, and businesses.  Mittal emphasized that there will be no deductions or reductions in the salaries or wages of employees due to this leave.

Under Section 135(b) of the Public Representation Act 1951, the directive ensures that every person employed in any business, profession, industrial undertaking, mall, or other establishment, who is entitled to vote, will be granted leave on the day of polling. This includes employees on daily wages and casual workers, who will also receive their wages despite the holiday.

In addition to the directive, the following specific instructions have been issued: All institutions, shops, including those operating on shifts such as malls, will remain closed on May 25, 2024. Daily wage workers and casual workers will be entitled to both leave and wages for the day. The only exception to this directive applies to employees whose absence might cause danger or significant public loss due to the nature of their work.

To ensure the strict implementation of this order, the District Election Officer has tasked the Deputy Labor Commissioner, Deputy Chief Factory Inspector, Assistant Deputy Labor Commissioner, Assistant Director of the Employment Office, and all Labor Superintendents with visiting their respective areas to monitor compliance. They have been instructed to ensure that the order is followed in both letter and spirit, with any violations being punishable under relevant legal sections.

This initiative underscores the commitment of the District Election Office to uphold democratic participation and facilitate every voter’s right to cast their ballot without any employment-related hindrances.

The Jamshedpur Lok Sabha constituency encompasses six Vidhan Sabha (legislative assembly) segments: Baharagora, Ghatshila, Potka, Jugsalai, Jamshedpur East, and Jamshedpur West. Voters in these segments will head to the polls on May 25th to participate in the Lok Sabha elections.

 Alternative photo identity cards allowed for voting

Jamshedpur: In an effort to ensure that every eligible voter can exercise their democratic right in the upcoming elections, East Singhbhum District administration has announced that voters will be allowed to cast their votes even if they do not possess a Voter ID Card. Instead, they can present one of the following 12 alternative photo identity documents to establish their identity at the polling booth: Aadhar Card, MNREGA Job Card, Passbooks with photographs issued by banks/post offices, Health insurance smart card issued under the Ministry of Labour scheme, Driving License, PAN Card Smart cards issued by RGI under NPR, Indian Passport, Pension document with photo, Service identity cards with photographs issued by the Central/State Government/Public Undertakings/Public Limited Companies to their employees, Government identity cards issued to MPs/MLAs/Legislative Council members and Unique Disability ID (UDID) Card, Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India.