PHDCCI urges EC to devise vote mechanism for truck drivers

PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry today urged the Election Commission to devise a mechanism for truck drivers to cast their vote through postal ballot or via e-voting during elections.

A delegation comprising PHD Chamber President Anil Khaitan met Chief Election Commissioner O P Rawat and appraised him of the issue, "driving home the point that truck drivers be granted the right to cast their votes through postal ballot or else by way of e-voting mode on lines just as has been done for the military and police personnel".

The chamber argued that truck drivers are a critical links and pillars of India's trade and commerce and are usually on roads for weeks and sometimes for months at a stretch. And when elections are held for different and multiple public institutions, they are deprived of their voting rights.

It is believed that there are around 80 to 90 lakh such truck drivers that are on roads moving goods and passengers from one place to another across the country that do not avail of the opportunity to exercise their legal right to vote on account of their daily engagements plying trucks and therefore, a mechanism ought to be evolved and put in place that such a lot also gets an opportunity to cast their vote through the suggested means of e-voting or postal ballot, the chamber said in a statement.

Khaitan said that the chief election commissioner was sympathetic to the proposal mooted by the chamber.