Death of an EY employee: “What should families teach…” – Finance Minister Sitharaman’s comment on “stress management” sparks anger

A few weeks after the death of 26-year-old auditor Anna Sebastian Perayil – who worked at Ernst & Young in Pune – allegedly due to overwork, comments by Indian Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on the subject of “stress management” sparked an uproar.

Speaking at a medical college in Chennai, the Union Finance Minister said that people need inner strength to cope with pressure and that this can only be achieved through divinity, reported PTI.

Without mentioning Ernst & Young, Sitharaman said, as quoted by PTI “… discussed a subject that has been in the newspapers for two days. Our children are going to colleges and universities and are graduating with flying colors. A company, without mentioning the name, is a partnership. There was a news item there two or three days ago about a woman who had studied CA well and could not cope with the pressure of work – she died because she could not cope with the pressure.”

Sitharaman believes that families should teach their children certain things in addition to the formal education they receive at good institutions.

“What should families teach? No matter what you study and what profession you pursue, you should have the inner strength to handle that pressure and this can only be achieved through divinity.

“Believe in God, we need God's grace. Seek God, learn good discipline. Only then will your Atma Shakti grow. Inner strength comes only with growing Atma Shakti,” the FM added.

“Educational institutions should impart divinity and spirituality. Only then will our children attain the inner strength that will help them and the country progress. I firmly believe in this,” the minister added.

What did the opposition say?

Commenting on the issue, the Leader of the Opposition in Parliament, Rahul Gandhi, said his party would ensure that the tragedy of the incident became a catalyst for change.

He said: “I have pledged my personal commitment to Anna's family as well as the full support of the Congress party to ensure that this tragedy becomes a catalyst for change.”

Priyanka Chaturvedi, Rajya Sabha MP from Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray), criticised the Finance Minister's comments. She wrote to X: “Dear Nirmala Sitaraman ji, Anna had the inner strength to handle the stress that came with the grueling Chartered Accountant degree. It was the toxic work culture and long working hours that took her life. This needs to be addressed. Stop victim shaming and at least try to be a little sensitive. I am sure God will show you the way if you look for it.”

Commenting on this, FM Nirmala Sitharaman said, “Dear @priyankac19, I have raised this matter in a lecture delivered in Tamil at a prestigious university on the outskirts of Chennai. I have specifically mentioned that the stress was unbearable for her after passing such a demanding and rigorous exam as the CA. No names were mentioned, either by the lady or the company.”

“The university has set up a meditation room and a place of worship for all its students and faculty. In this context, I spoke about the importance of building the inner strength of students. In my grief over the tragic loss, I stressed the importance of institutions and families supporting the children. In no way was there any accusation of victim shaming, not even remotely,” she said.

“The Union Labour Ministry has already assured a thorough investigation into the allegations of an exploitative working environment in connection with the tragic death,” the Finance Minister added.

CPI MP Sandosh Kumar strongly criticised Finance Minister Sitharaman for his attempt to trivialise and belittle the day-to-day problems of working people across the country. He said, “Overwork, inhuman working conditions, widespread unemployment and lack of social security are creating stress and insecurity among workers, especially among the younger sections of our workforce across all professions. Instead of addressing these structural problems, the Finance Minister's advice to rely on God is bizarre and insensitive.”

What did Anna's mother say?

Anna's mother, Anita Augustine, wrote to Rajiv Memani, Chairman of Ernst & Young India, mentioning that her daughter died just four months after joining the firm. She also pointed out the firm's toxic work culture.

“Anna returned to her room completely exhausted, sometimes flopping on the bed without fresh clothes, and was bombarded with messages asking for more reports. She tried her best and worked very hard to meet the deadlines. She was a fighter through and through and did not give up easily. We told her to stop, but she wanted to learn and gain new experiences. However, the overwhelming pressure was too much even for her,” Anita had written.

Reply from Rajiv Memani:

Shortly after receiving the letter from Anna's mother, Rajiv Memani, Chairman of Ernst & Young India, wrote on LinkedIn that he was treating the family's correspondence with “utmost seriousness and humility.” In a statement posted on LinkedIn, Memani said, “I am deeply saddened and as a father, I can only imagine Ms. Augustine's grief. I have expressed my deepest condolences to the family, although nothing can fill the void in their lives. I would like to reiterate that the well-being of our employees is my highest priority and I will be personally committed to this goal. I am absolutely committed to fostering a harmonious workplace and I will not rest until this goal is achieved.”

Investigation by the Ministry of Labor:

As anger over the young employee's death grew, the Union Labour Ministry launched an investigation into allegations of an unsafe and exploitative work environment.

“We are deeply saddened by the tragic loss of Anna Sebastian Perayil. A thorough investigation into allegations of an unsafe and exploitative work environment is underway. We are committed to justice and @LabourMinistry has officially taken up the complaint. @mansukhmandviya,” said Labour Minister Shobha Karandlaje.