The claim that booth level officer (BLO) Aneesh George from Kannur, Kerala, took his life due to intense Special Intensive Revision (SIR)-related work pressure gained further traction, with Kankol-Alappadamba panchayat president openly rejecting the Kannur Collector’s assessment that the BLO faced no heavy workload. Aneesh George was a resident of this panchayat.
Panchayat president M.V. Sunil Kumar said Aneesh George had been under “extreme pressure”, adding that he repeatedly told superiors he “was unable to cope with the responsibilities assigned.” Despite this, officials insisted the work had to be completed. Aneesh George, who was handling BLO duties for the first time, found the task overwhelming, he said.
According to the panchayat president, Aneesh George was active in coordinating with local youths to deliver SIR forms. Deeply attached to his family, Aneesh George had reportedly been experiencing mental strain due to the workload. Higher officials were allegedly pressing him to submit the pending 150 forms and collect previously submitted ones. A camp for form collection was being organised under his leadership at the local library when news of his death reached the panchayat, said Mr. Sunil Kumar.
Mr. Sunil said Aneesh George’s family had informed him that he was having “sleepless nights due to workload and did not have food properly.”
Aneesh George, a peon at Ramanthali Kunnaru AUP school, was found dead in his bedroom around 11 am on Sunday when his family returned from the church.
Mr. Sunil pointed out that transferring BLO duties from Anganwadi teachers to last-grade employees has created difficulties, especially for those lacking field experience.
Published – November 17, 2025 01:43 pm IST
