In order to encourage a higher voter turnout, Jalandhar DC Himanshu Aggarwal in talks with IELTS centres and travel agents announced a 50% monthly fee waiver for students who will exercise their franchise on poll day i.e. June 1, 2024. Along with this, as many as 40 travel agents, immigration consultants and IELTS centers of the district have voluntarily announced to give 50 percent discount on service charges on flight tickets between June 1 and 7.
This is in accordance to District Administration’s voter awareness campaign to cross the target of 70% voting during upcoming Lok Sabha elections 2024.
District Election Officer-cum-Deputy Commissioner Dr. Himanshu Aggarwal appreciated these efforts during a meeting with travel agents, immigration consultants and managers/owners of IELTS centers. He added that this move will further strengthen the administration’s on-going drive to encourage voters’ especially the youngsters, to cast their vote.
Divulging more, the DEO said that this discount can be obtained from selected travel agents, immigration consultants and IELTS centres from June 1 to 7 after voting on June 1.
Urging travel agents, immigration consultants and IELTS centers to play a proactive role in voter awareness, the DEO asked them to encourage youngsters studying in their centers who are 18 years of age or above and are eligible to vote, to must cast their vote on June 1.
He also mentioned that persons aged 18 years or above, whose vote has not yet been enrolled, can registered themselves S voters by filling Form No. 6 till May 4, 2024. He added that the nearest booth level officer can be contacted to for the same .
Similarly, voters can seek more information in this regard at helpline number 1950.
He asked the travel agents to encourage people coming for ticket booking, especially NRIs, to take advantage of the discount being given after voting on June 1, so that the mission of above 70 percent polling for Lok Sabha constituency Jalandhar can be achieved.
The DEO also appealed to all the consultants and ticketing agents to encourage their clients to plan their foreign trips after June 1, besides encouraging NRIs to return to Jalandhar for voting.
Dr. Aggarwal said that the district administration was making all out efforts to sensitize the voters about their right to vote which received positive response from hotel/restaurant industry of the city and now travel agents, immigration consultants and IELTS centers have come forward to join this initiative.
He further said that more efforts will be made for voter awareness in the near future so that every voter can be reached out. Earlier, the DEO lauded the efforts of travel agents, immigration consultants, and IELTS centers for their contribution in this campaign.
On this occasion Additional Deputy Commissioner (Urban Development) Jasbir Singh, SDM Jai Inder Singh, Assistant Nodal Officer (Sweep) Dr. Surjit Lal, travel agent, immigration consultant and manager/owner of IELTS centers were also present.