Uttar Pradesh’s ongoing Special Intensive Revision drive has taken another tragic turn. A Booth Level Officer in Bareilly died of a brain haemorrhage, another BLO in Meerut attempted suicide, and a primary school teacher in Bulandshahr threatened to take her life because she said she could no longer bear the pressure of the work. These incidents have pushed the number of BLO deaths in the last twelve days to ten. Three of these deaths were suicides.
In Bareilly, Ajay Agarwal, a 51 year old BLO and spokesperson at MB Inter College, died on Monday night after returning home from his SIR duty. His family said he had been under severe stress since November 24, when he was given data feeding work. They said he did not know how to operate an Android phone and struggled to upload information on a basic device.
His son Prakhar told the Times of India, “He kept telling the officials that he did not know how to use a smartphone. No one listened. They scolded him whenever he struggled. He kept saying the workload was too much for him.” Ajay Agarwal is survived by his ailing wife and son. Bareilly district magistrate Avinash Singh could not be reached for comment.
In Meerut, Mohit Kumar, an irrigation department clerk and BLO in his mid thirties, consumed poison on Tuesday night. His wife Jyoti Devi said he had been pushed to the edge by constant pressure from senior officials. She said, “I only want one thing. No one should be pressured the way my husband was. Please train them properly before sending them. Saying they were trained is a lie because no real training was given.”
Meerut district magistrate VK Singh denied the allegations. He said, “The work done by BLO Mohit Kumar was satisfactory. Why he consumed pesticides will be investigated. He is out of danger and receiving the best treatment.”
In Bulandshahr, a primary school teacher named Rajni sent a suicide threat on WhatsApp. She wrote that she had completed more than half of her work but officials kept changing instructions. She said, “First they told me to distribute all the forms. Then they suddenly asked me to take them back and upload everything online. I cannot bear this workload and harassment any longer.”
These incidents come after several similar deaths during the SIR drive in recent days. In Hathras, a government teacher collapsed and died on Tuesday morning while preparing to leave for work. His wife blamed stress linked to his BLO duties. In Sambhal, headmaster Arvind Kumar died on duty and his family also alleged pressure.
In Moradabad, assistant teacher Sarvesh Singh died by suicide and left a note saying he was exhausted by digital uploads, lack of sleep and fear of suspension. In Fatehpur, lekhpal Sudhir Kumar Kuril took his life a day before his wedding after he was allegedly threatened with dismissal. In Gonda, assistant teacher Vipin Yadav consumed poison and his wife recorded a video saying he had been harassed.
Four more workers from Bijnor, Bareilly, Lucknow and Deoria died of medical causes while on duty according to their families.
Government employees across the state say the workload, digital requirements and fear of punishment during the SIR drive have become unbearable and unsafe.
