India, Dec. 23 -- Among the many issues that the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls across the country has unleashed, is the burden and stress it is causing to booth level officers (BLO) tasked with distributing forms, enumerating voters, and verifying lists. For several weeks now, news of stressed out, exhausted BLOs resigning, and, in far too many cases, dying or committing suicide have been pouring in. These grim stories put a much-needed spotlight on the lived realities of India's sarkari (government) officers.

Far away from the comfort, glamour and power of the lal batti (red beacon), are India's street-level bureaucrats or other government personnel, the block development officer, the patwari (revenue officer), the...