A wave of concern and anger is sweeping across Gujarat following the death of a fourth Booth Level Officer (BLO) in the past week. The incidents have triggered an outcry over the intense workload and pressure faced by these officials, who are currently engaged in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
The latest incident involves Ushaben Indrasinh Solanki, a BLO assistant, who collapsed and died at a school in Vadodara. While the cause of death is suspected to be a heart attack, her family revealed that she had been assigned BLO duty despite having poor health, and they had previously cautioned officials about her condition.
This tragedy follows three other reported fatalities among BLO/SIR staff in Gujarat in the preceding days. In Kodinar, Arvindbhai Vadher reportedly died by suicide, allegedly due to work pressure. Kalpanaben Patel, a BLO on duty in Tapi, suffered a fatal heart attack. Additionally, a BLO in Kheda reportedly collapsed and died while on duty earlier in the week. Rameshbhai Parmar (50) from Jambudi village in Kheda district also died of a heart attack, with his family citing "excessive work pressure" linked to the ongoing SIR as the cause.
The opposition Congress party has raised serious questions about these deaths, with chief spokesperson Manish Doshi stating that the Election Commission needs to intervene immediately. Concerns are mounting regarding the immense pressure on BLOs, who are primarily teachers and field staff, to meet deadlines and manage extensive paperwork. Reports indicate that many BLOs are working long hours under stressful conditions, leading to exhaustion and health complications.
Indrasinh Solanki, the husband of the deceased Ushaben Solanki, stated that apart from her regular job at the ITI and BLO duty, she was also managing household chores, which added to her stress. He also mentioned that she was a heart patient and had requested to be excused from BLO duty.
Authorities are now facing increasing pressure to address the concerns raised by the public and employee associations. Allegations of unsafe working conditions, unrealistic deadlines, and inadequate support for BLOs are being investigated. Some officials have stated that BLOs are not required to work more than eight hours a day and are not required to work every day. However, associations are demanding that the workload be lessened.
The Election Commission is expected to review the SIR process and assess the workload distribution among BLOs. Steps to provide adequate rest, medical assistance, and psychological support to these frontline workers are also under consideration. As the outcry intensifies, the focus remains on ensuring the well-being of those involved in the crucial task of maintaining the integrity of the electoral rolls.
