The death of 26-year-old chartered accountant Anna Sebastian Perayil, who worked at Ernst & Young’s office in Pune, has sparked a wave of outrage and debate. The alleged cause of her death – overwork – has led to calls for better work conditions and a safer work environment. Adding fuel to the fire were remarks made by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman about “stress management.”
While addressing an event at a medical college in Chennai, Sitharaman suggested that individuals need inner strength achieved through divinity to handle pressure. Although she did not explicitly mention Ernst & Young, she alluded to the case, saying, “…was discussing about an issue that is on newspapers for the past two days. Our children go to colleges and universities for education and come out in flying colours. A company, without mentioning its name, it’s a partnership. There, a woman who had studied CA well, unable to cope with the work pressure, two-three days ago we received a news–she died unable to cope up with the pressure.”
Sitharaman further emphasized the importance of families instilling a sense of “inner strength” in their children, which she believes can only be achieved through spirituality and faith. “Believe in God, we need to have God’s grace. Seek God, learn good discipline. Your Atma shakthi will grow only from this. The inner strength will come only with growing Atma shakthi,” she added. She urged educational institutions to incorporate divinity and spirituality into their curriculum, arguing that it would contribute to the well-being of students and the nation.
These comments, however, were met with strong criticism from the Opposition and the deceased’s family. Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, pledged his support to Anna’s family and promised to make her death a catalyst for change. Rajya Sabha MP from Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray), Priyanka Chaturvedi, accused the finance minister of victim-shaming, stating, “Dear Nirmala Sitaraman ji, Anna had (the) inner strength to handle the stress that came with pursuing a gruelling Chartered Accountancy degree. It was the toxic work culture, long work hours that took away her life which needs to be addressed. Stop victim shaming and at least try to be a little sensitive, am sure god will be the guide if you seek.”
In response, Sitharaman clarified that her remarks were made in the context of a Tamil talk delivered at a deemed university in Chennai. She mentioned that the university had set up a Meditation Hall and a place of worship for its students and faculty, which led her to emphasize the importance of inner strength. She denied any intention of victim-shaming, stating that she was simply highlighting the need for institutions and families to provide support to children, especially after they complete demanding courses like CA.
CPI MP P Sandosh Kumar condemned Sitharaman’s comments as insensitive and bizarre, arguing that they ignored the real problems faced by working people, such as overwork, inhumane working conditions, pervasive unemployment, and lack of social security. He criticized Sitharaman’s advice to rely on God as a way of avoiding addressing structural issues.
Anna’s mother, Anita Augustine, wrote to Ernst & Young India Chairman Rajiv Memani, highlighting the toxic work culture at the firm. She described how her daughter would return home exhausted, often collapsing on her bed without even changing clothes, only to be bombarded with messages demanding more reports. Despite her efforts to quit, Anna felt pressured to continue working to gain experience and exposure. Sadly, the overwhelming pressure proved too much for her.
In response to Anna’s mother’s letter, Memani expressed his deep sorrow and vowed to prioritize the well-being of employees. He committed to fostering a harmonious workplace and vowed to personally champion this objective.
The Union Labour Ministry has launched an investigation into the allegations of an unsafe and exploitative work environment at Ernst & Young, following public outrage over Anna’s death. The Minister of State for Labour, Shobha Karandlaje, has assured the public that the ministry is committed to ensuring justice and has officially taken up the complaint.
This incident has brought to light the pressing issue of workplace stress and the need for employers to prioritize the well-being of their employees. It serves as a stark reminder that long working hours, toxic work culture, and inadequate support can have devastating consequences. While the investigation into Anna’s death continues, it has sparked a critical conversation about the importance of creating a more humane and supportive work environment.
