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The Election Commission’s Intensive Special Revision (SIR) campaign has exposed a troubling reality: BLOs, the backbone of democracy, are facing extreme stress, overwork, and fatalities. Across multiple states, deaths from illness, accidents, and even suicide have been reported during SIR. Veteran journalist Manoj Tibrewal Aakash, in his special show The MTA Speaks, analyzes the causes, systemic failures, and urgent need for humane policies to protect these essential workers.
New Delhi: The Intensive Special Revision (SIR) campaign being carried out by the Election Commission across the country has revealed a deeply troubling reality, one that compels us to question whether the cost of electoral reform is now being paid with the lives of those who form the very backbone of our democracy. This analysis will explain what SIR is, why it is essential, and how this very process has become a source of relentless pressure, leading to a disturbing rise in the deaths of Booth-Level Officers (BLOs) nationwide.
We will examine the tragic incidents reported from multiple states, understand why BLOs are falling victim to stress, overwork, illness, accidents, and even suicide, and identify who holds responsibility for this mounting crisis. We will also bring forward the reactions of opposition parties, teachers’ organizations, and the Election Commission itself.
Senior journalist Manoj Tibrewal Aakash conducted an in-depth anaysis in his special show The MTA Speaks on SIR and BLO deaths.
This discussion is not merely about administrative lapses, it has become a powerful test of the system’s sensitivity, accountability, and the humanity embedded in the democratic process.
The Election Commission conducts a special revision of the voter list every year to ensure it remains clean, accurate, and up-to-date. This process includes adding new voters, removing deceased ones, updating addresses, deleting duplicate names, and ensuring overall transparency in the voter list. While simple on paper, the ground reality is extremely demanding. BLOs must go door-to-door, collect forms, and upload them on apps and portals within strict deadlines. This places immense pressure on the lowest-rung election workers the BLOs.
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SIR is underway in 12 states and union territories, including West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Chhattisgarh, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Goa, Puducherry, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, and Lakshadweep. Reports from these states raise serious questions about the system. Approximately 20 BLO deaths have been reported so far, though teacher groups and opposition parties claim the number is much higher. These deaths represent unsung warriors who collapsed under pressure and workload.
Uttar Pradesh has reported at least four confirmed BLO deaths. The suicide of Gonda BLO Vipin Yadav shocked the state; he allegedly consumed poison due to unbearable pressure from officials and endless work. In Lucknow, another BLO died from a heart attack, and the family blamed exhaustion. Fatehpur reported a death caused by lack of rest and inadequate medical support during illness. Teachers' associations have directly blamed government negligence.
West Bengal is in an even more alarming situation. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee claimed 28 deaths during SIR, though unverified officially. BLOs in Murshidabad, Malda, and Nadia were hospitalized due to physical and mental exhaustion. Several teachers above 60 years of age are being forced to do strenuous fieldwork and late-night data uploads. Server crashes worsen their workload.
In Madhya Pradesh, cases of deaths and severe illnesses have emerged from Sagar, Rewa, and Balaghat. One BLO died of a brain stroke after extensive fieldwork. Many BLOs walk long distances in remote regions daily, while officials push for unrealistic targets.
Gujarat has reported four BLO deaths. Many workers complain that app failures force them to work until midnight. One death each has been reported from Tamil Nadu and Kerala; in Kerala, a BLO collapsed while returning home due to exhaustion.
Two BLO deaths were reported from Vidarbha, Dhule, and Nandurbar in Maharashtra. Several female BLOs were hospitalized after collapsing during fieldwork. In tribal regions, BLOs walk 40–50 km daily without adequate health facilities.
In Rajasthan’s Kota, Jhalawar, and Bikaner districts, deaths and fainting incidents have become common. Teachers claim that officials set impossible targets. Bihar saw two BLO deaths, prompting teacher unions to launch a “Halt SIR” campaign. In Jharkhand, Naxal-affected areas pose safety threats. In Jammu and Kashmir, mountainous terrain forces BLOs to walk 8–10 km daily.
Another disturbing trend is FIRs being filed against BLOs for delays or errors. In Noida, four FIRs have been filed naming more than 60 officials, including BLOs, assistant BLOs, and supervisors. This raises concerns about whether BLOs are being treated as scapegoats.
Opposition parties have heavily criticized the government and the Election Commission. Congress called BLOs the backbone of democracy and accused the system of insensitivity. The Trinamool Congress called it an EC failure. The Samajwadi Party demanded action against officials linked to Gonda BLO Vipin Yadav’s suicide. Shiv Sena (UBT) raised concerns about BLOs’ health in Maharashtra.
The Election Commission states that SIR is mandatory and that states must ensure safe working conditions. The EC has sought reports on BLO deaths and extended deadlines in some regions. However, systemic inefficiencies, server failures, and excessive work remain unresolved issues.
The most urgent question is whether the goal of accurate voter lists is worth risking human lives. BLOs are not machines, they are the very pillars of our democracy. Without compassionate policies, reliable technical support, manageable workloads, realistic deadlines, and an immediate halt to punitive actions, the entire system risks collapsing under the weight borne by its most vulnerable yet indispensable workers.
