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Election Officer Dies on Duty Amidst Workload Fears
22 Nov
Summary
- A 50-year-old BLO assistant died on duty, the fourth such death in four days.
- The deceased's husband cited health issues and immense workload as contributing factors.
- Officials stated no formal leave request was made and work was within duty hours.
A 50-year-old woman working as a BLO assistant in Vadodara died on duty at a local school on Saturday. This tragic event marks the fourth death among election staff in Gujarat in just four days, fueling worries about the intense workload and stress faced by those involved in electoral processes. The deceased, Usha Solanki, was reportedly waiting for her supervisor when she collapsed and was later declared dead at a hospital.
Her husband expressed that Solanki had prior health concerns and had appealed against being assigned BLO duty, citing an overwhelming workload both at home and during her official responsibilities. He believes the immense pressure contributed to her demise. Another relative echoed these sentiments, warning of mental breakdown if the burden on election staff is not alleviated.
Conversely, Vadodara collector Anil Dhameliya stated that there was no formal request for leave due to health issues and that Solanki was not subjected to work beyond stipulated duty hours. He added that the administration is actively working to reduce BLO workload and has communicated concerns to the Election Commission of India for a more decentralized process.
