LS polls: Punjab Labour Dept to appoint nodal officers for migrant labourers

The Labour Department of Punjab has decided to appoint nodal officers in each district to ensure that migrant labourers working in the state get their voter IDs made.

In this regard, a meeting was held here on Wednesday under the chairmanship of Chief Electoral Officer S. Karuna Raju and Principal Secretary Labour S. Venkatrathnam with the Assistant Labour Commissioners.

Addressing the meeting, Raju said that in a democracy, every individual has a defined role and hence it was imperative that each eligible voter had their voter IDs made. He further said that there are a large number of migrants in Punjab living without their voter IDs. This makes it essential for them to be included in the democratic system, he added.

"At the time of travelling to Punjab for work, their age is below the required age for issuance of voter ID and hence they remain without a vote here and in their home state as well," the CEO said.

Meanwhile, Venkatrathnam said his department will soon issue a notification regarding the decision to appoint nodal officers.

Labour Commissioner Punjab Vimal Setia and Gurpreet Singh Atwal were also present during the meeting.

The Lok Sabha elections will be held in Punjab on May 19.