Unfortunately, recent incidents have made the terrible treatment of poll workers in India the world over. This is particularly the case for Booth-Level Officers (BLOs), who serve a critical function of ensuring a seamless electoral process. Tragically, two deaths linked to the strenuous nature of this work have emerged, prompting calls for reform and better treatment of these essential workers.
Rameshbhai Parmar, one such school principal in the state of Gujarat, allegedly died from a heart attack in sleep. He’d had a long day of Special Integrated Registration (SIR) duties. His family has claimed that the intense stress that comes with an election administration role was a significant factor in his premature passing. One such person was Arvindbhai Vadher, a primary school teacher, who recently committed suicide. His death was due in part to the unbearable stress of his BLO role.
Their struggle has connected strongly with the broader community. Kumar, a fellow poll worker, summed up his transformative experience in an emotional video. He shared how he was suffering from the crushing burdens of election administration. He cried as he described working around the clock and never feeling like he was living up to the expectations of his role.
BLOs are often the grassroots field staff of the country’s electoral commission, and are made up mostly of government school teachers, junior staff and contract workers. With long hours stretching from 14 to 15 daily, these individuals face grueling schedules characterized by minimal rest and insufficient compensation.
A perennial problem for many government schools across India is that of understaffing. Educators protest that pulling them out of their classrooms to perform election-related duties negatively impacts students’ educations. The Supreme Court has always been sensitive to these kinds of concerns. First, it now requires states to bring more staff on board to ease the burden on BLOs during SIR operations.
In the past, the SIR exercise lasted six months in 2002 and 2003. Under the existing BLOs, neither side has more than 30 days to get their work done. They travel from door to door to hand out forms, check documents, respond to questions, and ensure the correct information is uploaded. This narrow timeline makes an already difficult job feel almost impossible.
Other states have been forced to recruit volunteers from universities to help fulfill these responsibilities. Districts in Uttar Pradesh are motivating their best performing BLOs with praise, cash incentives and gifts. This strategy is intended to inspire and incentivize workers to remain even when circumstances become difficult.
The Election Commission has granted an extension of the SIR schedule. Thanks to some unexpected relief, it will now run from December 4 through December 11. Despite this, a lot of workers are understandably doubtful about what they’ll get paid and what’s coming down the pipeline. One poll worker from Noida voiced their concerns:
“Let us see if we get any money, our hopes are low.”
In Ghaziabad, poll worker Sunil Singh recently reported a drastic drop in his platelet count. He felt constantly drained and worn down but could not take personal time away from his SIR responsibilities.
The demands and pressures put on BLOs have resulted in unrest among workers across the country. Communities came out in protest to demonstrate their fears. They filed official complaints with the Election Commission and with the National Human Rights Commission, asking for deadline extensions, safer schedules and working conditions.
The reality is not just bad, it’s the worst ever. More than a dozen SIR poll workers have suffered severe challenges, including both physical and mental anguish from the grueling SIR schedules. This deeply concerning trend raises immediate questions about the sustainability of what has become the status quo. We have an ethical obligation to take care of those who defend the defenders of democracy in India.
“Any short break I get is spent tracking down people who were not at home when I first visited.”
She also lamented her lack of time off:
“I have not had a day off since 4 November.”
The situation remains dire as more than a dozen poll workers have succumbed to physical and mental strain due to demanding SIR schedules. This alarming trend raises urgent questions about the sustainability of current practices and the ethical obligation to care for those responsible for upholding democracy in India.