The government has announced public holidays for government employees and officials to facilitate voting during the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. The General Administration Department has issued orders stating that all government and non-government offices, urban local bodies, educational institutions, banks, tea gardens, and industries, including commercial and industrial establishments, will remain closed on voting days.
Chhattisgarh Announces Varied Voting Holidays Across Districts; Free Medical Aid for Election Duty Personnel
In Chhattisgarh, public holidays have been declared on different dates in various districts for voting. On April 19th, voting will take place in the Bastar division, including Kondagaon, Narayanpur, Bastar, Dantewada, Beejapur, and Sukma. Similarly, on April 26th, holiday is declared in Rajnandgaon, Kabirdham, Khairagarh-Chhuikhadan-Gondia, Rajnandgaon, Mahalla Manpur (Chowki), and Gariaband-Mahasamund. The third phase of elections will take place on May 7th, and on this day, holiday will be observed in Surguja, Raigarh, Janjgir-Champa, Korba, Bilaspur, Durg, and Raipur Lok Sabha constituencies.
In addition, government-appointed officials and employees engaged in election duties will be provided free medical facilities in all state government hospitals during the Lok Sabha General Elections – 2024. If necessary health facilities are not available in government hospitals or for emergency situations, officers and employees can avail themselves of treatment at three hospitals in Raipur (Balaji Hospital Mowa, Narayana Hospital Devendra, and Ramkrishna Care Hospital Pachpedi) and two private hospitals outside the state (Care Hospital in Hyderabad and Apollo Hospital in Visakhapatnam).
Assam, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal Declare Public Holidays for Voting Across Districts During Elections
Similarly, public holidays have been announced in Assam on April 19th, April 26th, and May 7th in different districts where voting is scheduled. Moreover, in Uttar Pradesh, public holidays have been declared on the days of voting in various districts during the Lok Sabha and Legislative Assembly by-elections. For instance, on April 19th, April 26th, and May 7th, holidays have been announced in Saharanpur, Shamli, Muzaffarnagar, Bijnor, Meerut, Moradabad, Rampur, Pilibhit, and Bareilly. Furthermore, public holidays will be observed in different districts on different dates in subsequent phases of elections.
Similarly, in West Bengal, the state government has announced public holidays in all parliamentary and assembly constituencies during the seven phases of Lok Sabha elections and by-elections to facilitate the voting process. All state-operated government offices, municipalities, boards, statutory and local bodies, as well as educational institutions, will remain closed on the respective voting dates to allow every employee to exercise their voting rights.
These measures aim to ensure maximum participation of government employees and citizens in the democratic process of elections.