Odisha government on Friday asked all business, trade and industrial undertakings to grant paid holiday to their employees on the voting day of the upcoming Urban Local Body (ULB) elections to municipalities, NACs and three municipal corporations on March 24.
As per the schedule announced by the State Election Commission (ECI), the general elections to Urban Local Bodies (106 municipalities/NACs and 3 municipal corporations) will be held on March 24.The voting will be conducted from 8 am to 5 pm.
In a letter to all Revenue Divisional Commissioners (RDCs), Collectors, Public Sector Undertakings, the Additional Secretary, Labour & ESI has asked to take the necessary steps in this regard.
“To facilitate the voters in these areas to exercise their franchise, the State Election Commission has recommended that every single person employed in any business, trade, industrial or any other establishment and desiring to vote at the said election shall be granted paid holiday on the date of poll,” the Odisha government letter read.
Moreover, any violation in the compliance of the direction will be treated as an offence. The written application by the employees will be sufficient to show their enrolment in a particular municipality/NAC/Municipal Corporation.