Gujarat Teacher Dies By Suicide Due To Electoral Roll Revision Stress: A Mental Health Crisis Among Poll Workers

Further probe is underway. (Representational)

Kodinar:

A school teacher appointed as a Booth Level Officer (BLO) reportedly died by suicide in Gujarat's Gir Somnath district on Friday. His family revealed that he left a note citing "mental stress and exhaustion" from electoral rolls revision work as the reason behind his decision.

Arvind Vadher, the teacher, was found hanged at his residence in Devli village of Kodinar taluka around 6:30 am, according to officials.

Vadher taught at a government primary school in Chhara village, Kodinar, and had recently been assigned duties as a BLO for the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise.

In his alleged suicide note addressed to his wife, Vadher attributed his extreme step to the pressures of the SIR duty.

"I find it impossible to continue this SIR work. I have been experiencing exhaustion and mental stress for several days. Please take care of our son...I see no alternative but to take this step," Vadher reportedly wrote.

N V Upadhyay, Gir Somnath Collector and District Election Officer, stated that police are investigating the suicide from all angles.

Upadhyay expressed shock at Vadher's suicide, noting that he was considered among the 'top performing BLOs' in the district and had already completed over 40 percent of his assigned tasks.

Following this incident, representatives from Gujarat Rajya Prathmik Shikshak Sangh, an association of government primary teachers, met with election officials in Gandhinagar to discuss challenges faced by teachers serving as BLOs.

Just a day earlier, another school teacher working as a BLO in Gujarat's Kheda district died from a heart attack. Family members attributed his death to "excessive work pressure" associated with the ongoing SIR of electoral rolls.

Rameshbhai Parmar, 50, a resident of Jambudi village in Kapadvanj taluka, Kheda, passed away from a heart attack in his sleep between Wednesday night and Thursday morning.

Helplines:

Vandrevala Foundation for Mental Health: 9999666555 or help@vandrevalafoundation.com

TISS iCall: 022-25521111 (Monday-Saturday: 8 am to 10 pm)

(If you need support or know someone who does, please reach out to your nearest mental health specialist.)