A Noida assistant teacher’s resignation from her role as a Booth Level Officer (BLO) has once again brought attention to the immense strain placed on frontline staff during the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise.
Pinky Singh, an assistant teacher at Geja Higher Primary School in Sector 94, submitted her resignation to the District Election Officer after finding it impossible to balance her teaching responsibilities with the demanding BLO duties. In her letter—which has gone viral—she cited overwhelming workload, health concerns related to thyroid issues, and family pressure as key reasons that made continuing in the role unmanageable.
Assigned to Rockwood School in Sector 33, she was responsible for verifying and updating the records of 1,179 voters. Singh stated that she had been able to submit details for only 215 individuals despite working continuously, noting that the dual workload left her unable to perform either job effectively. She also sought clear instructions on how to hand over her election materials properly.
Her resignation comes at a particularly sensitive time. The Noida administration has recently intensified scrutiny of SIR-related responsibilities, registering FIRs against 60 BLOs and seven supervisors for alleged negligence. Officials claim that the revision process requires strict adherence to deadlines, but many on the ground say the pressure has crossed reasonable limits.
The SIR exercise launched across 12 states on November 4, requiring BLOs—mostly teachers and government employees—to distribute and collect enumeration forms and enter data digitally using a mobile app. Each BLO typically handles 1,000 to 1,200 voters and must make multiple house visits to complete verification.
Many officers, especially in Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal, have described the workflow as unsustainable. Repeated server failures, late-night messages, and constantly changing instructions have contributed to rising stress levels. Reports of exhaustion, breakdowns and even suicides in some states have heightened debate over whether the SIR exercise is being conducted without adequate planning or support.
Singh’s resignation adds to mounting evidence that frontline workers are bearing an overwhelming burden under the current system, with many calling for immediate reforms, better training, technological improvements and realistic timelines to prevent further burnout.
