In an effort aimed at ensuring equity and fair play, Bangalore Electricity Supply Company (Bescom) has taken to a novel way of empowering its employees to pick their ‘best achiever’ through ballot.

The move is part of an initiative to encourage competitive spirit among the employees. While, March 15 saw a trial run of the “reviewing facility,”over 12,000 Bescom employees from Bangalore City, Bangalore Rural, Kolar, Tumkur, Chitradurga, Devangere, Ramanagar and Chikkaballapura, will cast their votes on April 3 to choose the best among them. Each employee can cast three votes using online facility or sending messages through mobile. The three votes will be for choosing best achiever in senior, same level and junior level officers. There is no provision for ballot paper submission.

There are eight circles under Bescom and at every circle level, meter reader and another other lower cadre employee will be chosen and awarded.  Junior engineer and cadres above them will be chosen at Bescom level.

Explaining the process, Bescom Chief Administrator (Consumer Affairs) Anand Nayak, said following loopholes in mobile message method where instances of double voting was found, and  to curb fake voting, each employee was provided with a code while voting. “This will ensure transparency and encourage competitive spirit,” he added.

Bescom normally selects its best achiever-gauging employee’s contribution through consumers’ feedback and other company’s appreciation. The achievers are felicitated with gold medal and cash prize of Rs 10,000, silver medal and cash prize of Rs 5,000 and bronze medal with certificate.