The sudden passing of a 59-year-old teacher in Bhojpur district has raised concerns about the mounting pressure on election workers in the state.
Rajendra Prasad, a headmaster and Booth Level Officer (BLO) supervisor, died of a cardiac arrest on August 27, just months before his retirement.
His family believes that the overwhelming workload and constant stress linked to voter list revision contributed to his death.
Prasad’s son, Ashish Raj, recalled how his father had been under immense pressure due to frequent calls and reprimands from senior officials.
Ashish said that their father was repeatedly asked to explain his work, and following that, his health began to decline. His elder sister, Deepshikha, added that a threatening phone call left their father visibly shaken, after which he became withdrawn.
The Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process, initiated by the Election Commission to update voter records, has reportedly increased the workload for BLOs across Bihar. Many of them are required to conduct fieldwork under tight deadlines, often with little support. Prasad’s family shared that he had become stressed and irritable at home, a stark contrast to his usual demeanor.
Despite their grief, the family expressed disappointment over the lack of support from government officials. Prasad’s wife, Anarkali, said that after his passing, no representatives from the education or administrative departments visited them, and they received neither compensation nor assistance.
While officials denied allegations of undue pressure, citing that Prasad never communicated his health issues, colleagues and other BLOs privately admitted that the workload has been overwhelming. One BLO, speaking anonymously, revealed that meetings are often called at short notice and fieldwork must be carried out even under challenging conditions such as floods. Another worker explained that despite their experience, they frequently face criticism for delays or voter protests.
Prasad’s case is not isolated, as similar challenges have been voiced by BLOs in other districts, with calls for better planning and mental health support.