GDS Target Pressure Claims Life in Madhya Pradesh: AIGDSU Seeks Urgent Action

Madhya Pradesh: In a deeply disturbing incident, a young Gramin Dak Sevak (GDS) working as Branch Postmaster (BPM) allegedly ended his life due to relentless target pressure and a toxic work environment. The tragedy has sent shockwaves across the postal community in India.

AIGDSU Writes to Department of Posts

The All India Gramin Dak Sevaks Union (AIGDSU), in an official letter dated 16 December 2025, has written to the Member (Personnel), Department of Posts, New Delhi, demanding immediate intervention.

The letter highlights how unrealistic targets, coercive monitoring, and constant mental harassment at the field level are creating unbearable pressure on GDS employees.

Unrealistic Targets and Toxic Work Culture

According to the union, the deceased GDS BPM was subjected to continuous performance pressure in the name of targets. Such practices, the union states, reflect a toxic work culture where numbers are valued more than human lives.

Gramin Dak Sevaks work under challenging rural conditions with:

• Limited infrastructure
• Poor internet connectivity
• Social and village-level pressures
• Multiple responsibilities with low support

Imposing corporate-style targets without ground reality assessment is pushing employees to mental exhaustion.

Mental Health of GDS Cannot Be Ignored

The AIGDSU letter strongly emphasizes that mental well-being and dignity of labour must be prioritized. Constant fear, coercion, and threats break morale and can lead to irreversible consequences, as seen in this tragic case.

The union rightly states that workplaces should be service institutions, not battlefields.

Union’s Demand to Postal Department

The union has requested the Department of Posts to:

• Issue strict instructions to stop undue target pressure on GDS
• Ensure a humane and supportive work environment
• Sensitise supervisory officers about mental health
• Hold accountability at higher administrative levels

The letter also stresses that accountability must flow downward with empathy, not fear.

A Grim Reminder for Systemic Reform

This incident is a painful reminder that targets cannot be chased at the cost of lives. Gramin Dak Sevaks form the backbone of rural postal services, and their contribution deserves respect, protection, and humane policies.

Unless immediate corrective measures are taken, such heartbreaking incidents may recur.

Conclusion

The suicide of a GDS BPM in Madhya Pradesh is not an isolated incident but a symptom of deeper systemic issues. The Department of Posts must urgently address the concerns raised by AIGDSU and reform the target-driven culture before more lives are lost.

If you are a GDS employee facing extreme work pressure, remember: your life matters more than any target.