Rajasthan Leads SIR Program Across 12 States, But Teacher Unions Raise Concerns Over Work Pressure

Jaipur: Rajasthan is spearheading the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) program, moving faster than 10 other states and completing 30.17% of the work in just 15 days. Only Goa is ahead in terms of overall pace. However, the rapid progress has sparked controversy, with teacher unions raising concerns over excessive pressure on school staff.

Tragic Incident Sparks Outrage
The issue gained national attention after Mukesh Jangid, a school teacher and currently a Booth Level Officer (BLO), committed suicide. In his suicide note, he accused his supervisor, Sitaram Bunkar, of severe harassment and threats of suspension, highlighting the mental strain caused by excessive workload. Teacher organizations and employees across the state have expressed deep anger and demanded immediate action against officials responsible.

Government Response
In response, the Chief Electoral Officer instructed all district election officers to provide additional resources and support to BLOs, ensuring that digitization work can continue efficiently without overburdening individual officers.

Teacher Unions Voice Demands
The All Rajasthan State Employees Joint Federation has formally petitioned the Chief Minister, highlighting complaints from multiple districts. According to Vipin Sharma, state secretary of the federation, teachers report being pushed beyond their actual capacity, working 12–18 hours a day, which is leading to reduced efficiency and rising depression among staff.

The union has demanded:

• Strict action against officials involved in Mukesh Jangid’s case
• Timely resolution of work-related difficulties
• Compensation of ₹50 lakh for the deceased’s family
• Government jobs for dependents of the deceased

SIR Program Progress in Rajasthan
The SIR program, running from 4 November to 4 December 2025 for household verification, has already digitized 1.65 crore forms on the ECInet platform. Rajasthan’s pace of 30.17% completion places it at the top among 12 participating states, second only to Goa. The program aims to release the draft voter list on 9 December 2025, with claims and objections accepted until 8 January 2026, and the final list published on 7 February 2026.

Balancing Speed With Safety
While Rajasthan’s fast-paced work reflects the dedication of BLOs and election management teams, the recent tragedy and rising complaints from staff have raised serious questions about administrative practices and employee welfare. Unions urge the government to act swiftly to ensure justice and prevent future incidents, emphasizing that employee well-being must not be sacrificed in the race for speed.