Khammam: Officers get creative to avoid poll duty

Khammam: With the local body elections in progress, collectorates of Khammam and Bhadradri districts are facing a new problem.

There are more than 100 leave applications from government employees reluctant to go for poll duty in both the collectorates. Many of the staff sought to be excused from poll duty, by citing health problems and other domestic issues.

Recently an employee requested the Khammam collector not to post him for poll duty as he had to receive his daughter in-law. Bhadradri collector Rajath Kumar Shaini warned staff, “Those who avoid poll duty would have to face action as per the rules”.

Mr Shaini said, “Government employees feel humiliated when they are assigned poll duty. They feel it lowers their dignity. Employees do not understand that poll duty is a sacred service in upholding democracy and that they are an integral part of protecting the democratic spirit of the country. Employee should inculcate this spirit rather than finding ways to evade poll duty."

N. Sridhar, an activist recalled an incident that took place in 2001. “A teacher who worked in Kothagudem, tried to evade poll duty when A. Giridhar was collector. She used the recommendation of her son who held a top post in Hyderabad. But, the collector rejected her appeal and said nobody was above the law and posted her for poll duty.”