Finance Minister's Stress Management Call Sparks Controversy

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman's suggestion for colleges to teach stress management after the death of a young CA professional at EY has drawn criticism. The Congress lambasted her remarks as 'cruel' victim-blaming. The government has pledged to investigate EY's work environment following the tragic incident.

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has urged colleges and universities to include stress management in their curricula to bolster students' resilience, following the recent death of a young Chartered Accountant employed at EY. Her comments have ignited a political backlash, with opposition Congress condemning her remarks as 'outright cruel' and insensitive.

Anna Sebastian Perayil, a recent CA graduate who worked at EY Pune, reportedly faced overwhelming work pressure, which took a toll on her physical, emotional, and mental health. Perayil's mother's letter to EY India Chairman Rajiv Memani highlighted the 'backbreaking' workload her daughter endured as a new employee. The government has promised an investigation into EY's working conditions.

During an event at a private medical college, Sitharaman addressed the tragic death indirectly, emphasizing the necessity for educational institutions to teach life skills, spirituality, and discipline to help students manage work-related stress. Congress general secretary K C Venugopal criticized Sitharaman on social media, accusing the government of failing to address corporate exploitation and protect young professionals from toxic work environments.

(With inputs from agencies.)