The Kozhikode Jilla Motor and Engineering Workers’ Union, affiliated to the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU), has demanded that Chief Electoral Officer E.K. Majhi and District Election Officer N. Prasanth make facilities for the drivers engaged in poll duty to exercise their franchise for the Assembly elections.
The union general secretary, T. Balan Nair, in a memorandum submitted to the election officers said that usually drivers summoned for poll duty failed to cast their votes. The authorities neither reimburse the payment for the vehicles taken for hire for the purpose.
The amount for the vehicles rented by the Revenue and Police departments during the three-tier local bodies’ polls in November 2015 had not been reimbursed till now. No steps had been taken in spite of the reminders sent to the State government and the State Election Commission.
Mr. Nair said that the Chief Electoral Officer should ensure that drivers get the opportunity to vote during the Assembly polls on May 16 and obtain the reimbursement for the vehicles hired for the election duty. Otherwise, the drivers in Kozhikode district would not cooperate with the election duties, he added. The union has also demanded that the drivers should also be provided with facilities for basic needs and sufficient rest during their duty hours. They should also be given food allowance and special allowance (batta) from the time they produce their vehicles to join duty. Steps should be taken to supply diesel and engine oil for vehicles on poll day, Mr. Nair said. The rental amount should be reimbursed immediately after duty ends.
The rental fee should be discussed in advance. The wage of the employees should be on parity with the fare wages considered for eight hours duty, he said.
Drivers in Kozhikode district will not cooperate with the polls if the demands are not met.
T. Balan Nair
Kozhikode Jilla Motor and Engineering Workers’ Union
