Govt employees forced to shelve year-end plans

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, December 10

Several government employees have put their year-end vacation plans on hold as the schedule of gram panchayat elections have been announced for the end of this month.

The notification regarding elections will be issued on December 15, last date for filing nominations will be December 19, while the date of polling would be December 30 and the entire election procedure would be completed by December 31.

This has put the year-end plans of employees on hold. A list of those who would be on duty during the elections has been released, while some more lists would be out soon.

An employee from the Education Department said he had made plans for New Year and was planning to go to Shimla with his family. “But now, I have to shelve my plans, as I have been assigned election duty,” he said.

“I am left with no other option but to cancel my plans, as I cannot stay absent from the election duty,” he said.

Another employee from another government department who has been assigned the duty said conducting elections was an important work and keeping this in view he will cancel his plans.

“I had done all my hotel bookings and reserved air tickets as well, but since it will not be possible now, I have cancelled my plans,” he said.

Meanwhile, officials in the administration are getting requests daily for exempting them from the poll duty. “New Year plans are special, but conducting elections is also important, which had to be completed without any obstruction,” an official said.