Rahul Gandhi Video Calls Anna Sebastian Perayil’s Parents, Assures Action

Leader of Opposition (Lok Sabha) Rahul Gandhi spoke to the parents of Anna Sebastian Perayil  today via a video call arranged by the Chairman of All India Professionals Congress Praveen Chakravarty during his visit to their home in Kochi. Perayil allegedly died after she faced work pressure in the Pune office of EY India.

Gandhi, in his call with Sibi Joseph and Anita Augestine, offered his sympathies at Anna’s sudden and tragic demise.

Further he lauded the family’s courage and selflessness to speak up at this extremely difficult moment about this issue in the larger interest of improving working conditions for the millions of professionals in India.

Gandhi assured them that he will personally fight for this cause in his capacity as the Leader of the Opposition.

He instructed the AIPC Chairman to create an awareness movement in Anna’s memory for all working professionals in India.

Following Gandhi’s instructions, AIPC said in a press release that, the organisation will announce a helpline soon to collect information from corporate professionals about issues related to work stress and toxic work culture. “Post which, AIPC will seek to come up with draft guidelines for better working conditions for professionals in the corporate sector,” the statement said.

This follows an emotional letter by Anna’s mother, Anita Augustine, addressed to Rajiv Memani, Chairman of EY India, holding the company accountable for her daughter’s death. Anna had worked long hours, suffered from anxiety and exhaustion, and collapsed from the overwhelming demands placed upon her. Augustine described the intense work culture, alleging that her daughter was pressured by her managers despite showing signs of distress.

EY India has expressed its condolences and reaffirmed its commitment to employee well-being, promising to address the concerns raised by the family.

“We are deeply saddened by Anna Sebastian’s tragic and untimely passing in July 2024, and our deepest condolences go to the bereaved family. Anna was a part of the Audit team at S R Batliboi, a member firm of EY Global, in Pune for a brief period of four months, joining the firm on March 18, 2024. That her promising career was cut short in this tragic manner is an irreparable loss for all of us,” a statement from EY India read.

EY India also stressed that they are committed to the well-being of their employees, adding, “While no measure can compensate for the loss experienced by the family, we have provided all the assistance as we always do in such times of distress and will continue to do so. We are taking the family’s correspondence with the utmost seriousness and humility.”

Meanwhile, the central government has already announced a probe into the matter.