A Booth Level Officer (BLO) deployed in Uttar Pradesh's Gonda district has died, with his family alleging that relentless work pressure and official negligence were directly responsible for his deteriorating health and subsequent death.
Excessive Duty Pressure Alleged as Cause
Nanbachcha, 57, who was assigned to booth number 336 in the Katra Bazar assembly constituency, passed away on Monday night at the King George's Medical University (KGMU) Trauma Centre in Lucknow. He had been on ventilator support for nine days after suffering a brain haemorrhage. A resident of Bangai village in the Rupai Deeh development block, Nanbachcha also worked as a 'shiksha mitra' at a local school.
His family members have come forward with serious allegations. They claim he was under continuous pressure from the block education officer to complete duties related to the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral rolls. His wife, Krishna Devi, stated that his health suddenly worsened on the morning of December 6. He was immediately rushed to a private hospital in Gonda, where doctors diagnosed a brain haemorrhage and referred him to Lucknow for advanced care.
History of Hypertension Ignored Due to Workload
The family's account paints a picture of a man torn between his health and his duties. They revealed that Nanbachcha had a known history of high blood pressure. However, due to the crushing workload, he often skipped his prescribed medication. Krishna Devi explained he avoided the medicine fearing it would cause drowsiness and prevent him from fulfilling his official responsibilities.
Adding to the mental distress, the family alleges that the block education officer scolded him on December 5. Krishna Devi believes this incident severely affected him mentally. He collapsed the very next morning. Despite nine days of specialised treatment, he could not be saved.
Community Support and Demand for Investigation
Following his death, Nanbachcha's body was brought back to his native village for the last rites. The funeral was attended by the District Basic Shiksha Adhikari, along with numerous teachers and fellow 'shiksha mitras'. In a show of solidarity, the teaching community extended humanitarian aid, collecting nearly Rs 5 lakh to help his family cover the substantial medical expenses.
The incident has sparked calls for accountability. Avadhesh Mani Mishra, the district president of the Uttar Pradesh Primary Teachers’ Association, termed the death unfortunate. He demanded an impartial probe into the circumstances, strict action against anyone found responsible, and a government job along with financial compensation for the grieving family.
However, District Basic Shiksha Adhikari Amit Kumar Singh has rejected the allegations against the block education officer, calling them baseless. The contradictory statements set the stage for a potential investigation into the working conditions and pressures faced by frontline election duty officials.
