In a tragic incident highlighting the immense pressure on ground-level election staff, Uttar Pradesh Congress Committee (UPCC) president Ajay Rai on Tuesday visited Sitapur to meet the grieving family of Umesh Gautam, a booth level officer (BLO) who allegedly died by suicide. The visit came in the wake of claims that the death was linked to excessive work-related stress during Special Intensive Revision (SIR) duties.
Condolences and Allegations of Neglect
Rai expressed his heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family. During his interaction, he raised serious concerns over the circumstances that led to this extreme step. The Congress leader stated he was informed that neither officials from the Election Commission nor the state government had visited the family to offer consolation or assistance since the incident occurred. This apparent lack of official outreach prompted immediate action from the visiting politician.
Demands for Compensation and Probe
Taking note of the situation, Ajay Rai spoke directly to the Sitapur District Magistrate over the phone. He put forth a set of urgent demands for the family's support. Rai demanded immediate financial assistance of Rs 1 crore for the family of the deceased BLO, along with a government job for one dependent member. He described Gautam's death as "deeply distressing and alarming," directly linking it to the electoral process.
Rai alleged that unrealistic targets imposed on BLOs and other government staff during the Special Intensive Revision work appeared to be a key factor behind the tragedy. The SIR process, crucial for updating voter lists, often places significant operational burdens on frontline officers. Citing the need for accountability, the UPCC president demanded a high-level and impartial inquiry into the entire incident to ascertain the exact causes and prevent such occurrences in the future.
The Human Cost of Election Machinery
This incident throws a stark light on the working conditions of the thousands of BLOs who form the backbone of India's electoral democracy at the grassroots level. The case from Sitapur raises critical questions about the workload, pressure, and support systems for these officials, especially during peak revision periods. The demand for a crore in compensation underscores the severity with which the opposition party views the alleged systemic failure leading to a loss of life.
The focus now shifts to the district and state administration's response to these demands and whether an official inquiry will be instituted to investigate the pressures faced by election duty staff.
