The body of a 50-year-old Shiksha Mitra, deeply involved in the ongoing intensive electoral roll revision process, was recovered from a well in Pawa village of Mahoba district on Wednesday, sending shockwaves through the community. The deceased, identified as Shankar Lal Rajput, was a teacher at the government school in Pawa. His family has alleged that unbearable pressure from his Special Intensive Revision (SIR) duties drove him to take his own life.
A Tragic Discovery and Allegations of Pressure
According to details, Shankar Lal Rajput had left his village on Monday evening and was reported missing. His body was discovered in the well on Wednesday evening. Police rushed to the spot upon receiving information, retrieved the body, and sent it for a post-mortem examination. The incident has sparked outrage among his grieving family members, villagers, and colleagues.
Shankar Lal had been working as an assistant to Booth Level Officer Brijendra Singh for the SIR work since November 17. His responsibilities included the arduous task of going door-to-door to fill forms, collect voter information, and make online entries. Relatives have made serious allegations, stating he was under constant pressure to meet a demanding daily target of 100 forms.
Family's Heart-Wrenching Account
His daughter, Anjani, recounted that officials persistently pressured her father to complete the work quickly, a stress so severe that it robbed him of proper sleep at night. His nephews, Brijendra and Jitendra, echoed these sentiments, asserting that excessive work and mental stress led him to the extreme step of suicide. The family's claims point to a systemic issue of overwhelming demands placed on ground-level workers during crucial administrative exercises like the electoral roll revision.
Police Investigation and Official Response
While the family's allegations are stark, the police have maintained a cautious stance pending investigation. ASP Vandana Singh stated that it is not yet clear whether it was a case of suicide. She confirmed that a team has been formed to oversee the post-mortem process, and further action will be determined based on its findings.
District Magistrate Gazal Bhardwaj also emphasized a rule-based approach, saying, "After the post-mortem report comes, further action will be taken as per rules." The statements from officials indicate that the case is under active scrutiny, and the final post-mortem report will be pivotal in establishing the circumstances leading to the tragic death.
The incident has highlighted the immense pressure on frontline workers tasked with critical government duties and raises serious questions about their workload and mental well-being during such intensive drives.
