Companies fail to provide adequate leave to vote

Despite the ECI's directive to provide enough leave for out-station voters, several companies have given only one day leave, making travel to their hometown and back a difficult

NT Correspondent

Bengaluru: Karnataka Assembly elections are around the corner, and with the Election Commission of India (ECI) directing all companies to provide leave to their employees on the day of voting, many have been left feeling dissatisfied with the arrangements.

The ECI's directive was aimed at ensuring that every eligible citizen has the opportunity to cast their vote without any hindrance. However, despite the directive, several companies in Bengaluru have provided only one day's leave to their employees, causing inconvenience to those living a day or two of travel time away from where their vote is listed.

An IT employee from Mysuru who works in Whitefield said, “Only people who are voting have off on Election Day and our HR has said that they we are only entitled to a day’s leave and the other days we should use our CLs. How can I travel to Mysuru and back in one day?” Furthermore, some companies have gone so far as providing only the workfrom-home option, which simply does not follow the ECI's directive.

While working from home may seem like a viable alternative, it may not be practical for all employees, especially those who need to travel a considerable distance to cast their votes. In addition to the issues faced by employees, several college students in the State have exams scheduled for the day before and after the elections. This has caused concern among many, as it may prevent them from casting their vote.

The timing of the exams could potentially leave students with little time to travel to their hometowns or polling booths to exercise their right to vote. This could have a significant impact on the voter turnout, particularly among the youth. It is essential that measures are taken to ensure that students are not disenfranchised due to exam schedules and are provided with sufficient time and resources to vote.

The lack of proper arrangements for employees to exercise their right to vote has sparked outrage among many citizens. People have taken to social media to express their disappointment and frustration at the inadequate measures taken by companies.

The right to vote is a fundamental right that is crucial to the functioning of a democracy. It is important that citizens are able to exercise this right without any hindrance. The ECI's directive was a step in the right direction, but it seems that many companies have not taken it seriously