Show inked finger, grab those perks

Politicians, activists and celebrities are not the only ones who are asking people to turn up to polling booths on voting day. As Gujarat goes to poll on April 23, companies here are pushing their employees to go out and vote. While some of them have offered incentives to promote voting, there are even a few that have gone to the extent of announcing a day’s pay cut for those failing to show an inked finger.

While the law states that the voting day should be a general holiday for private, government and PSUs offices operational in the constituency going to polls, Additional District Election officer Chetan Gandhi said the only exception to this norm are those involved in security operations, key economic activity and election duty. Private companies usually give two-hour period to employees for voting.

Smartify, a company engaged in home automation, has made its employees take an oath to vote and issued direction that those not exercising their franchise will lose that day's salary. Abhi Bavishi, CEO of the company, said, "It is an attempt to motivate voters, especially techies, who are looked upon as active on social media but lazy in voting. If our employees will vote they will get paid for the day and will get an extra week off, but if they don't then their salary will be deducted."

Creative Looms, a graphic designing company based in Prahladnagar, has made it mandatory for their employees to show their inked finger the next day. Ashish Negi, General Manager of the company, said, "Our team is young with average age of 26. It is our duty to turn them into responsible citizens. We get moral right to question the government only if we participate in the electoral process. Those who vote will get two additional weekly offs this month. Those who are registered as voters in other parts have been given optional off to travel home and vote."

smartSense Consulting Solutions, an IT company, has granted its employees a three-day leave as most of them are from Saurashtra. Mita Pabari, Director of the company, said, "We have made it mandatory for all our 50 employees to vote. Most of them hail from Saurashtra and we have asked them to stay with their family and vote. In return, we have asked them to show their inked fingers." Hi-Lab Solutions, a software company in Ahmedabad, operates 24x7 and cannot grant leave. Director Bhargav Tripathi said, "We are not giving holiday on April 23 as our company has 24-hour operations. Our employees can votse according to their convenience. However, those who vote will get double the salary for the day besides a compensatory off later. The unit which registers highest number of voting will also get a reward." CEO of GEx search, a global IT recruitment company, Robin Thomas said, "We have made it compulsorily for our employees to vote. Employees who vote will get special incentive like shopping vouchers."

General Manager Vivek Sharma of Hyatt Regency said, ".Support teams will have the option to take leave while the operational staff will be relieved during their shift hours."

Colleges organise awareness campaign
PDPU recently organised a camp to demonstrate how to cast vote via EVM and verify paper slip in VVPAT machines. Over 500 students turned up for mock voting and District Election officials explained voting procedure using EVM machines. Dr Anurag Srivastava, a faculty member at PDPU, said, “We organised the camp as part of ECI initiative that no voter should be left out. A lot of debate is taking place on reliability of EVMs and VVPATs and through the camp we clarified lots of queries. Those voting for the first time saw it firsthand how to cast the vote properly.”

DA-IICT and GNLU, both in Gandhinagar, took part in a marathon organised by State government. DA-IICT assisted Gandhinagar collectorate to organise “run for voter awareness” programme. Students of GNLU also participated alongside Army & BSF jawans. GNLU also organised street plays and skit sessions.”