Odisha govt instructs to grant paid holiday to employees on polling day

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government has directed for provision of paid leave for the employees who wish to cast vote during the panchayat polls in the state.

The leave will be granted for the day of the poll.

The Labour department has directed the Revenue Divisional Commissioners, all business, trade, industrial undertakings and other establishments to grant paid leave to their employees on the date of poll fixed for their respective local areas.

The employees can avail of the benefit by submitting a written application which will be sufficient to show their enrolment in a particular Gram Panchayat (GP).

“All business, trade, industrial undertaking, and establishments are hereby instructed to grant paid holidays to their employees on the date of poll fixed for their local area,” said a letter.

“Any violation of the above instruction will be treated as an offence,” it added.