Kerala BLO's Tragic Death: SIR-Related Stress Sparks Mass Boycott Amid Concerns Over Election Commission's Workload

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In a shocking turn of events, a 41-year-old school attendant and Booth-Level Officer (BLO) in Kerala's Kannur district was found dead at his home, allegedly due to high stress related to the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. The victim, who was responsible for distributing enumeration forms to households and ensuring their scrutiny within a tight deadline set by the Election Commission, was reportedly under immense mental trauma. His family has blamed the SIR-related workload for his tragic demise. The incident has sparked a mass boycott of duties by BLOs across the state, with several organizations, including the Action Council of State Govt Teachers and the Kerala NGO Association, refusing to report for work on Monday. They claim that the Election Commission has imposed unrealistic targets, leading to immense pressure on government officials involved in the SIR exercise. The state is currently in the midst of preparing for Assembly polls next year, and the SIR exercise coincides with local body polls scheduled for December. Political parties, including the Congress and CPI(M), have called for the SIR to be deferred until after the local body polls to alleviate pressure on government officials. Leader of Opposition VD Satheesan has demanded a detailed examination of the workload of BLOs to prevent further suicides. The Chief Electoral Officer, Rathan U Kelkar, has sought a report from the Kannur district collector on the incident. As the state grapples with the aftermath of this tragic incident, concerns are being raised about the Election Commission's workload and the impact it has on government officials involved in the SIR exercise.