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Karnataka official's death in accident sparks protests over work pressure
🇮🇳 India /Culture & Society

Karnataka official's death in accident sparks protests over work pressure

From Hindustan Times · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Sources not specified Outcome reported
  • A village administrative officer died in a road accident in Karnataka, sparking protests by revenue department employees.
  • Protesters allege excessive administrative pressure and unreasonable demands on staff working on electoral roll revision.
  • Another official assigned to the same exercise died of a heart attack, fueling concerns about work conditions.

A fatal road accident involving a 26-year-old village administrative officer in Karnataka has ignited protests among revenue department employees. They allege that officials tasked with the special intensive revision of electoral rolls are subjected to excessive administrative pressure and unreasonable demands.

She was under pressure. She said she would quit her job. In fact, we were planning to arrange her marriage. There are no fixed working hours. They were made to work without considering their personal life. There were too many responsibilities on a single person.

— RameshBhuvana's uncle, describing the pressure she was under.

Bhuvana, a village administrative officer and supervisor, died Saturday after a truck collided with her scooter in Tumakuru district. She sustained severe head injuries and later passed away at Siddaganga Hospital. Her death prompted revenue department employees to stage a protest at the Tumakuru deputy commissioner's office, demanding the transfer of the district collector and accusing senior officials of placing undue burdens on staff.

Bhuvana's uncle, Ramesh, stated she was under pressure and had considered quitting her job. He highlighted the lack of fixed working hours and excessive responsibilities placed on a single person. The Karnataka State Village Administrative Officers Association echoed these concerns, linking Bhuvana's early morning travel for work to the intense demands of the electoral revision program.

VAO Bhuvana, who was working in Tumakuru district, was coming from Bengaluru at 6 am for SIR work under pressure from the DC, Tehsildar and AC. While travelling on her two wheeler at such an early hour to get to work, she was hit by an unknown vehicle. She passed away in the hospital.

— Shivanand NayakGeneral secretary of the Karnataka State Village Administrative Officers Association, explaining the circumstances of Bhuvana's death.

The incident follows another death related to the same electoral revision exercise in Bidar district, where a 45-year-old teacher deployed for duty suffered a fatal heart attack. These events have led to questioning the necessity of the SIR exercise, with one Congress leader calling it "unnecessary."

RSS, BJP imposed SIR in Karnataka. It was not required at all.

— FH JakkappanavarA Congress leader questioning the necessity of the SIR exercise.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Hindustan Times in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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