A government teacher assigned as a Booth Level Officer (BLO) for the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Uttar Pradesh collapsed and died at his home in Hathras district on Tuesday morning. This tragic incident has pushed the death toll during the SIR duty in the state to nine within a span of just 11 days, a figure that includes three reported suicides.
Family Alleges Fatal Work Pressure
The deceased has been identified as Kamal Kant, a 45-year-old assistant teacher at a government primary school in Nawali Lalpur, under the limits of Sikandrao police station. According to his family, work-related stress was the primary cause of his sudden collapse. His wife, Neelam Sharma, who was at her parents' home at the time, revealed her last conversation with him. "My husband on the phone said to me that they are giving me tension and bothering me. I told him not to take tension," she recounted.
Officials stated that Kant had taken medication for low blood pressure earlier that morning before he lost consciousness just as he was preparing to leave for his duty. He was rushed to a hospital where he was declared dead. District Magistrate Atu Vats and SP Chiranjeeb Nath Sinha visited the bereaved family later in the day.
Administration's Response and Rising Toll
While the district administration has announced support for the family, the state's chief electoral office is yet to issue any formal statement regarding the alarming series of fatalities linked to the SIR exercise. DM Atu Vats mentioned that the body had been sent for post-mortem and the exact cause of death would be confirmed only after the report. "We received information at around 11 am that a BLO, who was unwell, died on the way to the hospital. It appears that he had a previous medical condition," Vats said.
Contrary to any suggestion of underperformance, officials confirmed that Kamal Kant's work during the SIR was satisfactory and he had already achieved over 50% of his assigned target.
Compensation and Future for the Family
In response to the tragedy, the district administration has announced a compassionate aid package. "Any government employee or personnel is part of one large administrative family. It becomes our responsibility to stand with the family," stated DM Vats.
The support measures include:
- A one-day salary contribution from officials, which will be deposited as fixed deposits in the names of Kant's four children.
- Assurance that the education of his three school-going children will continue without disruption.
- A contractual job for his wife, Neelam Sharma, who is an intermediate pass, under the compassionate appointment rules.
This incident has cast a stark light on the immense pressure faced by ground-level officials during crucial electoral preparatory work in Uttar Pradesh, raising serious questions about their workload and well-being.
