Amid the ongoing SIR (Special Intensive Revision) operations linked to election preparations in Gujarat, the Vadodara City Congress submitted a formal memorandum to the District Collector, urging immediate action on issues of excessive workload on government staff. The party has demanded financial compensation and a government job for the family of a BLO (Booth Level Officer) assistant who reportedly died due to work-related stress and overload. Additionally, the Congress has called for sick or medically unfit employees to be relieved from the heavy workload associated with SIR duties. Vadodara City Congress President Ritvik Joshi stated that the organisation has submitted similar representations on three earlier occasions, but no action has been taken so far. According to Joshi, the BLO assistant who passed away suffered a heart attack, and the excessive workload from school duties, household responsibilities, and SIR operations combined to create a situation that led to her tragic death. The Congress believes her family deserves urgent financial support and additional government benefits to ease their loss. In their memorandum, the party has stressed that staff members currently engaged in SIR responsibilities should be evaluated for health conditions. Those who are sick or medically vulnerable should be immediately relieved from duty to prevent similar incidents. The delegation also demanded temporary leave or workload reduction for school teachers involved in academic activities, arguing that managing both school duties and SIR operations together is causing unbearable pressure. According to Congress representatives, teachers are being assigned responsibilities for three to four villages simultaneously, creating an extremely heavy workload. The party has urged the administration to extend SIR operations by three months to reduce the pressure on staff and ensure the process is carried out smoothly without risking lives. The Vadodara City Congress also expressed strong concerns over the transparency and intent behind the ongoing SIR process. Ritvik Joshi alleged that BJP leaders have collectively orchestrated a conspiracy ahead of the upcoming municipal corporation elections. He claimed that the voter list prepared under the current SIR operations could be manipulated to create confusion and benefit the ruling party. According to him, citizens in Vadodara are increasingly dissatisfied with BJP governance, and the ruling party may attempt to remove names from voter lists, creating fear among the public. The memorandum submitted to the Collector highlights these concerns and urges the administration to ensure a clean, fair, and pressure-free SIR operation. The Congress has demanded that the Collector take immediate steps to safeguard employees’ health, protect the rights of voters, and provide justice to the family of the deceased BLO assistant. The party emphasised that political pressure, mismanagement, and lack of proper planning must not cost more lives or compromise the democratic process. With SIR operations continuing across Gujarat, the memorandum places responsibility on the district administration to ensure humane treatment of employees and transparent handling of voter data. The Congress has urged swift action, warning that public trust and worker morale are at stake.
Congress Demands Relief for Sick Staff, Aid for BLO Worker Who Died During SIR Duty
