Thiruvananthapuram, Nov 26 (UNI) The Joint Council of Kerala State Service Organisations has urged the authorities to postpone the national tiger census scheduled to begin in Kerala on December 1, citing serious concerns that the exercise will prevent thousands of government employees from exercising their voting rights in the upcoming local body elections.
In a detailed petition submitted to the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests & Head of Forest Force, the Chief Wildlife Warden, and the State Election Commissioner, the Council noted that with elections to the local self-government institutions set for December 9, the swift rollout of the census has created a crisis-like situation for nearly 3,000 staff members deployed for the operation.
Most personnel in territorial divisions are already assigned election duties, forcing the department to pull staff from the Wildlife wing and other units for the census.
Although the census is expected to conclude by the afternoon of December 8, the Council pointed out that many teams will be stationed deep inside forests, where current adverse weather and lack of transport facilities mean they would need at least one full day to return to their stations or range offices.
Compounding the problem, employees deployed for the census are not considered to be on election duty, making them ineligible to apply for postal ballots.
This effectively denies them any means to vote. Those working in districts far from their home constituencies also face the impossibility of travelling back in time to cast their ballots.
Highlighting these concerns, Joint Council Chairman S. Sajeev and General Secretary K. P. Gopakumar demanded that the tiger census in Kerala be deferred to ensure that all employees are able to participate in the democratic process without obstruction.
UNI DS SQ AAB