To woo NRI voters, Jalandhar travel agents announce 50 % cut on flight bookings

Good news from Jalandhar, the hub of NRIs and IELTS centres, where a section of travel agents, and immigration consultants has announced a 50 per cent discount on service charges on flight tickets between June 1 and 7 to increase the voter turnout in the world’s largest elections.

Likewise, the IELTS centres have also announced a 50 per cent monthly fee waiver for students who will exercise their franchise.

The conciliatory offers are made as part of the voter awareness campaign to cross the target of 70 per cent voting, said District Election Officer-cum-Deputy Commissioner Dr Himanshu Aggarwal, adding that the discount can be obtained from select travel agents, immigration consultants and IELTS centres from June 1 to 7 after voting on June 1.

There are over a thousand small and big IELTS and other English proficiency centres in Jalandhar, from where a large number of students take the tests and migrate to Europe and other foreign countries every year.

During a meeting with travel agents, immigration consultants and managers or owners of IELTS centres, the DEO urged them to encourage their clients to plan their foreign trips after June 1, and NRIs to return to Jalandhar for voting by availing the discount.

He appreciated their efforts and added that the move will strengthen the administration’s on-going drive to encourage voters, especially the youngsters, to cast their vote.

The DEO asked the IELTS centres to encourage youngsters aged above 18 years studying in their institutes to mandatorily exercise their franchise on June 1.

He also mentioned that if an eligible person has not enrolled in the voter’s list, the individual can contact the nearest booth level officer and get their names registered by filling Form 6 till May 4. 

Similarly, voters can seek more information in this regard at helpline number 1950.

According to figures, around 6 million people from Punjab are settled abroad mostly in the US, Canada, UK, Australia, and other non-English speaking European countries such as Italy, Germany and France. 

Majority of the immigrants hail from the Doaba region of the state, which constitute Jalandhar, Hoshiarpur, Kapurthala and Nawan Shahr district. Jalandhar also houses the NRI Sabha of Punjab.