Mangaluru: As more than a 1,000 requests of government employees seeking exemption from election work have been received, the Dakshina Kannada district administration is making sure that only genuine requests are taken into consideration.Interestingly, such requests which numbered about 350 plus in the last assembly polls, has seen a drastic increase during this Lok Sabha election, according to S Sasikanth Senthil, deputy commissioner. However, officials are making sure that only genuine reasons, which are mainly related to health issues , are taken into consideration while giving exemption, adds Sasikanth.The reasons for poll duty exemption include: Health issues, functions, vacations, marriages, examinations and unwillingness of the official to carry out poll duty. “Some of the reasons for officials to avoid poll duty are genuine, while the rest are just excuses to evade polling work,” said senior election officials.An official, who is dealing with requests for poll duty exemption said that they are receiving applications from people who want to skip poll duty based on personal reasons. “After receiving their application, we have asked them to give an explanation for the same. Officials will take a decision based on the explanation given by them. If the requests are made on health grounds, they have to get a certificate from a government doctor appointed by the district administration exclusively for Lok Sabha polls, which is a must,” he said.Sasikanth added that central government employees have been roped in for poll duties this year as well. It was done for the first time last year due to a staff crunch. “The central government employees including from NMPT and corporations, are given the responsibility of being micro-observers,” he said.Government employees will not be sanctioned leave for marriages and other such functions. Leaves are strictly not allowed between April 17 and 18, says senior government officials.Government nurses, doctors and those working in essential service sectors will not be deputed for poll duty, as it will inconvenience the common man.Meanwhile, due to the introduction of VVPAT, the requirement of poll staff has almost doubled this year. Senthil said that this year Dakshina Kannada district needs about 9,000 staff for poll duty.In Dakshina Kannada district there are about 1,861 polling booths of which 640 are said to be critical. They are spread across seven taluks—Mangaluru, Moodbidri, Kadaba, Puttur, Sullia, Bantwal and Belthangady.

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