Moradabad: A Booth-Level Officer (BLO), carrying out Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, allegedly died by suicide in Uttar Pradesh’s Moradabad citing work pressure.
The 46-year-old, identified as Sarvesh Singh, is among the several BLOs who have taken their own lives blaming excessive workload as the revision is underway in 12 states.
The revision taking place in West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Kerala, Chhattisgarh, Goa, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Tamil Nadu has fueled criticism with many blaming pressure from senior officials.
Sarvesh Singh, an assistant teacher posted at a school, had been given BLO duty on October 7, which was his first poll-related assignment.
BLO is primary officer responsible for contacting public to collect details of voters and upload them onto the database.
Footage that Singh is believed to have recorded before the extreme step shows him breaking down in tears saying that he was unable to complete the task despite working hard.
Overcome with grief, he apologised to his mother and sister, requesting them to take care of his young daughters.
Sobbing uncontrollably he said in the video: ‘Mother, please take care of my daughters. Please forgive me. I could not complete the task. I am going to take a drastic step.’
Seeking people not to blame anyone for his decision, he said ‘I am in deep distress. I haven’t been able to sleep for the last 20 days. I have four young daughters. Others are able to complete the work, but I am not.’
It is reported citing officials that his wife Babli Devi found him hanging in the storage room of their house.
A two-page handwritten suicide note, recovered from the spot, addressed the district Basic Education Officer, expressing helplessness in being unable to meet SIR deadline.
‘I have been working day and night but am unable to meet the SIR targets. My nights have become unbearable due to anxiety. I barely sleep for two to three hours. I have four daughters, two of whom are unwell. Please forgive me,’ the note reportedly read.
While acknowledging Sigh’s death, District Magistrate Anuj Kumar Singh said that Singh’s quality of work was excellent, adding ‘Anganwadi employees were deployed to assist him. Both administrative and police probes are underway. We will extend every possible support to the family’.
Referring to the contents of the suicide note, Senior police officer Ashish Pratap Singh said ‘The note states that he could not cope with the burden of BLO duty. Further legal proceedings are underway’.