It’s not just the Election Commission that is encouraging people to go out and vote on April 17.
Several companies and educational institutions too are encouraging people to make their vote count.
Some of them are even educating employees about the None of the Above (NOTA) option.
Companies like Yahoo, Google, NTT Data, GXS and a few others have declared a paid holiday on April 17 for all their employees in the state. Other companies are planning to declare Thursday a holiday and work on Saturday (April 19).
At HCL, all employees received a mail which read thus, “All employees working in regular shifts can avail of the company holiday on the day of election in their respective cities.
Employees working on critical projects and operations will be provided flexi-timing on Election Day and may plan their work schedule in advance after consultation with their respective reporting manager.”
Another software company in the city, Informatica Business Solutions, which has also declared a holiday on April 17, has sent out an email to its staff which not only urges them to vote but also informs them about the NOTA option.
“If you do not like any of the candidates you are to vote for, then there is the NOTA,” the email states.
Kiran (name changed), who works at Thomson Reuters, said though they have a holiday on April 17, employees have been asked to show the ink on Monday (April 21).
“We have been told to show the inked finger when we report back to work. Otherwise, it will not be considered as a holiday, but a casual leave,” Kiran added.
D Shashikumar, secretary, Blossoms School, said they have organised a lucky draw at their institution. “Parents of our students who cast their vote on April 17 can visit our school on that day. When they show the inked finger, we will give coupons. Each coupon will have the name of a student and the serial number. Once the school reopens, we will pick 10 coupons and they will be given prizes,” he said.
A similar initiative during the Assembly elections last year saw 1,800 people register.
“Our idea is to involve children in telling their parents to cast votes,” Shashikumar added.
Savaari Car Rentals has initiated an internal campaign to encourage its employees to vote. The organisation has given a day off on April 17 to all its employees, other than drivers.
Along with this, they will be given a redeemable voucher worth `500. Drivers will be let off for two hours and will get a `100 voucher, a company official said.