A senior lecturer from a government-run institute in Nagpur finds herself in a distressing conflict between her health and civic responsibility. The 56-year-old cancer patient has been assigned election duty on January 15, the very day she is scheduled for a crucial chemotherapy session, putting her at risk of punitive action.
Appeals Ignored, Threats Loom
Despite her college officially writing to the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) on December 26 requesting cancellation on health grounds, the lecturer received a follow-up call on January 7 to attend a poll training workshop. The situation became alarming after the civic body registered FIRs against four other academics for refusing poll duty. Fearing similar consequences, she rushed to the corporation office to get her name removed.
"I don't want to lose my job or forgo retirement benefits due to an adverse entry," the lecturer told TOI, highlighting her precarious position. Her medical documents, shared with the publication, show her last chemotherapy was on December 18, with the next critical session fixed for January 15.
A System Lacking Compassion
While a senior officer handling election duty noted on her application that it should 'be considered', subordinates failed to strike her name off the final list. In a recent visit to the NMC headquarters on Thursday, officials offered a partial concession, moving her to the reserve pool instead of active duty. However, this provides little relief.
Even reserve pool personnel must report to a designated location on polling day, from where they can be dispatched to any booth if needed. With her chemotherapy appointment immovable, she cannot fulfill this requirement, leaving the threat of an FIR or a showcause notice—similar to the 514 government servants in Amravati recently issued notices for missing training—constantly looming.
Political Intervention and Calls for Sensitivity
The case has drawn sharp criticism from Congress MLC Abhijeet Wanjarri, who called it a revelation of the bureaucracy's insensitive side. "Even if she is in the reserve pool, such people are required to go and attest that they reported for duty," Wanjarri stated. He asserted that patients undergoing cancer treatment should never be included in election duty and promised to take up the matter with officials.
As the lecturer makes repeated trips to civic offices seeking a final resolution, her story underscores a glaring lack of empathy and flexibility in the system, forcing a citizen to choose between her health and her duty under the threat of punishment.
