The ongoing Summary Revision of the electoral roll (SIR) in Uttar Pradesh has been marred by tragedy, with the deaths of seven Booth Level Officers (BLOs) reported across the state in recent weeks. Families of the deceased have directly linked the fatalities to extreme work pressure, sleepless nights, and the fear of disciplinary action, while district officials have denied any direct connection between the deaths and their official duties.
Personal Tragedies: The Human Cost of Targets
In Moradabad, the death of Sarvesh Singh, a BLO and assistant teacher, has sent shockwaves through the community. Singh left behind a poignant handwritten suicide note that spoke of immense mental anguish. "Nights barely pass, and days bring no peace… I want to live, but what can I do? In this restlessness and suffocation, I feel scared within myself," he wrote.
His wife, Babli, revealed the grim reality behind the note. She stated that for several days, her husband had been surviving on only two to three hours of sleep each night. He struggled with the digital processes required for the SIR work, particularly form uploads, and lived in constant fear of consequences for not meeting daily targets. "He was continuously receiving messages from officials demanding updates and warning him of consequences if work was not completed," Babli said. Compounding this stress were family worries, including the poor health of two daughters and the pressure of being the sole earner for a household that includes four minor children and his elderly mother.
In a separate incident in Bijnor's Dhampur area, 56-year-old BLO Shobha Rani collapsed and died after a heart attack on a Saturday morning. Posted at Booth No. 97 in Barwan, she had been assigned 1,003 forms for the SIR revision but had only completed 345. Her son, Deepak Saini, said his mother had continued working despite deteriorating health, often staying up late to meet targets. The family disclosed she was diabetic and had been unwell for days but felt compelled to continue due to a sharp increase in workload after the SIR process began. Her husband, Kripal Saini, lamented that her death occurred as they were preparing for their only son's wedding.
A Pattern of Pressure: Multiple Deaths Across Districts
The tragedies in Moradabad and Bijnor are not isolated. At least five other BLOs have died while engaged in the SIR process in Uttar Pradesh, painting a distressing pattern.
- On November 25, 27-year-old Sudhir Kumar Kuril, a lekhpal from Fatehpur, allegedly died by suicide a day before his wedding. His sister filed a complaint alleging officials had threatened him with dismissal if targets were unmet. Based on her complaint, a revenue inspector and another person were booked for abetment of suicide and under the SC/ST Act.
- Also on November 25, Vipin Yadav, 35, an assistant teacher in Gonda, reportedly consumed poison. A video recorded by his wife surfaced online where Yadav cited pressure from officials. The district administration denied these claims, attributing his death to domestic reasons.
- Three other BLOs died of reported medical emergencies while on duty: Sarvesh Kumar Gangwar (47) in Bareilly (cardiac arrest, Nov 26), Vijay Kumar Verma (40) in Lucknow (brain haemorrhage, Nov 22), and Ranju Dubey (44) in Deoria (heart attack, Nov 25).
Official Response and Family Demands
The response from authorities has been a mix of condolence and denial. Moradabad District Magistrate Anuj Singh stated that Sarvesh Singh's performance had been "satisfactory" and "exceptional," and that he had nearly met his tasks. Singh emphasized that training had been provided to all BLOs and an investigation was underway into the extreme step. He promised the family a government job, financial help, and coverage of all education expenses for the deceased's children.
In Bijnor, officials visited Shobha Rani's family to offer condolences but maintained her death was not caused by official pressure. A district programme officer asserted there was no stress from officials regarding SIR work and promised full departmental support to the family.
However, the families are seeking more than assurances. Sarvesh Singh's family has refused a postmortem and has demanded Rs 5 crore in compensation and a government job for a family member. The Chief Electoral Office of Uttar Pradesh has not issued any formal response to the series of deaths despite multiple queries from the media.
These incidents have cast a stark light on the immense pressure faced by ground-level government employees during intensive drives like the SIR, raising serious questions about work allocation, support systems, and the human cost of meeting bureaucratic targets.
