A senior lecturer from a government-run educational institute in Nagpur finds herself in a distressing conflict between her health and civic duty. The 56-year-old cancer patient has been assigned election duty on January 15, the very day she is scheduled for a critical chemotherapy session.
Appeals Ignored by Bureaucratic Machinery
The lecturer's college officially wrote to the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) on December 26, requesting her exemption from poll duty on compelling health grounds. However, the system seemed to turn a deaf ear. On January 7, she received another call instructing her to attend a mandatory poll training workshop.
Her anxiety was compounded by the NMC's recent action of registering FIRs against four academics for refusing election duty. Fearing similar repercussions, she rushed to the corporation office to personally plead for her name to be removed from the duty list. "I don't want to lose my job or forego retirement benefits due to an adverse entry," the lecturer expressed, highlighting the pressure faced by government employees.
A System Lacking Compassion and Coordination
Despite a senior election officer noting on her application that her request should 'be considered', his subordinates failed to act. Her name remained on the list. When she visited the NMC headquarters again on Thursday, officials offered a cold compromise: she would be placed in the "reserve pool" instead of active duty.
However, this provides little relief. Even those in the reserve pool are required to report to a designated location. From there, they can be dispatched to any polling booth if a need arises, leaving her medical schedule in jeopardy.
A Wider Pattern of Coercion
This incident is not isolated. It reflects a broader, rigid approach by authorities. Just a week before this case, authorities in Amravati issued show-cause notices to at least 514 government servants for remaining absent from election training sessions. This climate of fear makes it difficult for individuals with genuine hardships to seek exemption.
The situation has drawn sharp political criticism. Congress MLC Abhijeet Wanjarri condemned the episode, stating, "This reveals a very insensitive side of bureaucracy. We will not allow such things to happen." His comment underscores the need for a more humane and flexible system, especially for those battling serious illnesses like cancer.
The case puts a spotlight on the conflict between mandatory citizen duties and individual welfare, questioning whether the machinery of democracy should operate at the cost of a citizen's health.
