West Bengal BLO Dies of Stroke During SIR, Cause of Death Disputed

Overview

• Namita Hansda, 50, an Anganwadi worker serving as a BLO in Memari, Purba Bardhaman, was declared brought dead at Kalna Subdivisional Hospital after a brain stroke late Saturday.
• Her husband says she collapsed while delivering forms after a day of door-to-door work, while district officials say she collapsed at home late at night.
• The family attributes the death indirectly to stress from targets to distribute enumeration forms during the Special Intensive Revision.
• District authorities state the death was due to medical reasons and say no direct link to SIR duty has been established, with the administration looking into the case.
• The Vote Kormi and BLO Aikya Manch has written to CEO Manoj Agarwal seeking Rs 50 lakh compensation, in what is the first reported BLO death since the SIR began on November 4.