Central Govt, NHRC Yet to Contact Anna’s Family

Thiruvananthapuram: The family of Anna Sebastian Perayil, an audit and assurance executive at Ernst and Young (EY) in Pune who passed away due to work-related stress, has said that they have not been contacted by either the Union Labour Ministry or the National Human Rights Commission regarding the investigation.

Union labour minister Shobha Karandlaje had declared that the department would conduct an inquiry into the circumstances surrounding Anna's death. Justice will be delivered and employee safety will be ensured, she stated.

The NHRC on Saturday had taken suo motu cognisance of Anna's death and issued a notice to the labour ministry seeking a detailed report on the incident within four weeks. The commission had also urged companies to review their work culture, employment policies, and regulations to ensure they align with global human rights standards.

Sibi Josph, Anna's father, said that neither the Centre nor any Central agency had got in touch with the family. He told media persons that the family wanted the Centre to implement immediate measures to prevent such tragedies in the future.

Following the death of the young professional on July 20, 2024, her mother penned a letter to EY's Rajiv Memani, attributing her daughter's demise to an excessive workload. Anna's death has raised concerns about the working practices in various companies.

The three-page letter from Anna's mother triggered widespread outrage on social media. It was not just a mother's sorrow over her lost daughter but an appeal to a corporate giant to change so that no other parent has to endure what Anna's family is going through.