India General Elections 2024: ‘We were treated like bonded labour’

The recent deaths of two election duty personnel a police constable at Dadar strong room and a 55yearold returning officer at Parel have raised concerns among election staff They feel they have been treated unfairly likening their experience to bonded labour with insufficient training and unrealistic expectations The Election Commission of India ECI should consider exempting employees with chronic health conditions such as diabetes and hypertension they saidA source said ldquoWe were informed about election duty less than a month before the election and were directed to join the training session which was held in a school in the eastern suburbs Training provided was inadequate peppered with warnings about being suspended or sent to jail for any mistake or error A huge amount of information had to be absorbed in a short period of time in two training sessionsrdquoCISF officials control residents at the TMC English Medium School polling booth PicSatej ShindeThe BMC school serving as a polling station was in poor condition with dirty toilets and rats Election duty personnel had to work for two consecutive days without breaks with inadequate food and refreshments Water was provided but thats all we had The procedures at the dispatch centre and collection centre were lengthy exhausting and dragged on past midnightrdquo said the sourceInsensitive superiorsElection officials including zonal officers polling booth staff and observers lacked proper training and provided incorrect information inconsistent with their training causing delays and confusion over two exhausting days They were insensitive shouting orders regardless of the age status or gender of duty staff Furthermore individuals with preexisting health conditions such as hypertension diabetes and chronic digestive issues were disregarded expected to fulfill duties in extreme heat without basic amenities exacerbating their sufferingrdquo said the sourceJames John AGNI Nitai Mehta Founder Trustee Praja Foundation and Dr Mahesh Chavan consulting endocrinologistFirstperson accountldquoOn the eve of polling I got less than three hours sleep I readied the booth by 1230 am but wasnt allowed to leave With no facilities I sat for eight hours straight barely eating and without a bathroom break At the collection centre I had a panic attack and was prescribed medication yet still wasnt allowed to leave It wasnt until I pleaded with the returning officer that I was finally allowed to go home Later a zonal officer scolded meover the telephone for not filling out a form despite my medical condition Im currently undergoing treatment and cannot communicate with anyonerdquo said a woman polling staffer who requested anonymityExperts weigh inThe election staffs training has focused on Scare and Inspire leading to apprehension as any mistake could lead to arrests adding to the stress in an already tense era Instead of being empowering the training has been authoritative and distressing Election sites like the one at Maruti school in MIDC where I voted should be welllit and equipped with fans especially considering the prevalence of lifestyle diseases Its crucial to select younger healthier and more welcoming sites rather than burdening workers with uncomfortable conditionsrdquo said Dr Harish Shetty a psychiatrist whose friend was on polling duty and had a traumatic experienceThe festival of democracy and the worlds largest elections require immense effort often under harsh conditions The Election Commission should prioritise the wellbeing of those involved ensuring provisions like food water toilets and suitable working environments While participation is mandatory efforts should be made to make it more humane A feedback mechanism should be established to prevent the recurrence of such conditions ensuring that everyone involved including those behind the scenes can truly celebrate this festival of Indiaz said Nitai Mehta Founder Trustee Praja FoundationDr Mahesh Chavan a consulting endocrinologist said ldquoCurrently 15 to 20 per cent of the population deals with diabetes and related lifestyle issues like hypertension Stress often underestimated poses serious health risks particularly in demanding situations like elections Additionally increasing humidity raises the likelihood of electrolyte imbalances potentially triggering sudden heart irregularities and cardiac emergenciesJames John AGNI Andheri East said ldquoIt is unfortunate that those working behind the curtains had to go through a challenges High time the ECI provides basic infrastructure and treats staffers in a dignified manner Hope the chief electoral officer of the state will take corrective steps to rectify this in the future rdquoHealth examination a mustEmergency duties whether executive or supervisory should require health examinations With the emergence of long COVID19 individuals over 55 with chronic illnesses should be excluded PostCOVID19 cardiac issues have risen affecting even vaccinated individuals Consequently all emergency duties including elections should assess staff health with younger individuals screened and others following standard procedures Providing basic medical care including an oncall doctor and ambulance for polling booths should be within the golden hour of a medical emergency said Dr Subhash Hira Global Health Professor at the University of Washington and WHO pandemic panel memberOther sideManohar Parkar Deputy Secretary and Joint CEO Chief Electoral Officer State of Maharashtra ldquoWe have not received any complaint so far We will look into such complaints once received and will take appropriate steps to ensure that the same is not happening again Already clear directives are issued in writing on dorsquos and donrsquotsrdquo55Age of an onduty official who died