Thiruvananthapuram: The suicide of Kannur Booth Level Officers (BLO) Aneesh George, allegedly following intense stress from Special Intensive Revision (SIR) related work, has sparked massive outrage across the state, with the BLOs announcing a boycott on Monday.

The federation has decided to stay off work, alleging that BLOs are under extreme stress and that the Election Commission’s directives have created conditions that make it difficult for them to perform their duties. The Joint Action Committee will address the media on Monday as part of the protest.

A total of 35,000 BLOs have been deployed for SIR duties. Employees allege that the authorities have set unrealistic targets, resulting in unmanageable workloads and driving some BLOs to the brink of suicide.

The Action Council of State Government Employees and Teachers, along with the Teachers’ Service Organisation’s protest committee, is jointly coordinating the state-wide work boycott.

The Joint Action Committee said BLOs will stage protest marches to the Chief Electoral Office and to all district election offices across Kerala on Monday.

Aneesh George, a school attendant doubling up as a booth-level officer (BLO), was found dead on Sunday at his home in Ettukudukka, Kankol–Alappadamba grama panchayat near Payyannur. He was 41.

Aneesh’s family and local representatives said he had been under severe pressure to distribute enumeration forms and complete their scrutiny within the prescribed deadline.

Meanwhile, the office of the Chief Electoral Officer, Kerala, issued a statement expressing grief over the untimely demise of Aneesh George. The statement said Aneesh was a sincere and dedicated official who performed his duties with exemplary commitment during the ongoing SIR.

“Booth Level Officers are among the most crucial field-level functionaries of the Election Commission of India, serving as the first point of contact for voters and playing a vital role in ensuring inclusive and accurate electoral rolls.”

“During the Special Intensive Revision, District Election Officers and their teams have been facilitating the work of BLOs with the singular objective of ensuring that all eligible voters are duly enrolled. The entire election machinery continues to work in close coordination to fulfil the mandate of the Election Commission of India while ensuring that no official faces any undue hardship,” the statement added.