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In the wake of a tragic incident involving a young Chartered Accountant (CA) employed at EY, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has suggested that colleges and universities incorporate stress management into their curricula. This recommendation, made during an event at a private medical college, has sparked significant backlash from opposition parties, particularly the Congress, which has labeled her comments as “outright cruel” and indicative of victim-blaming.
The recent death of Anna Sebastian Perayil, a recent CA graduate from EY’s Pune office, has brought the issue of workplace stress to the forefront. Perayil’s mother penned a poignant letter to EY India Chairman Rajiv Memani, detailing the ‘backbreaking’ workload her daughter faced as a new employee. This tragic loss has prompted the government to promise an investigation into the working conditions at EY.
Sitharaman’s remarks came as part of a broader call for educational institutions to equip students with essential life skills, spirituality, and discipline, arguing that these could help them cope with the pressures of the modern workforce. However, critics have condemned her approach as insufficient, with Congress general secretary K C Venugopal taking to social media to accuse the government of neglecting the realities of corporate exploitation. He emphasized the need for systemic changes to protect young professionals from toxic work environments rather than shifting the responsibility to educational institutions.
As the political fallout continues, the government’s commitment to investigating EY’s practices underscores the urgent need for a dialogue about workplace mental health and the responsibilities of corporations to foster supportive environments for their employees. The situation remains a focal point of discussion in both political and public spheres, highlighting the critical intersection of education, corporate responsibility, and mental health in contemporary society.
