What is it like to work for a sensitive programme crucial to the country’s strategic interests? Between 1995 and 2010, 684 employees of the Indian Space Research Organisation died. These numbers were furnished by the space agency in response to a query by RTI activist Chetan Kothari in 2011. However, Kothari adds, ISRO chose to withhold the causes of death. Since “work-related” pressure was one of the reasons for suicide, as revealed by the government, BusinessLine spoke to an ISRO employee to get a glimpse of life in the space agency.

View from within

This is what Surinder (name changed) had to say about his job:

“Life is pretty routine, just like on any other campus, where people work and live within the same precinct. The day starts early and ends around 6 in the evening. However, we often take work home to meet the deadline. Work-wise, like all other jobs, there’s the usual scramble for promotions, the conflicts with the boss, and the work deadlines that keep everyone on their toes and on the edge. I am forced to be taciturn not only owing to the nature of the work, but also because competition is stiff. One is eligible for a promotion every two years, and missing a promotion is a huge setback.

“I know someone who hasn’t been promoted in six years! It’s very disconcerting. Promotions depend on the number of courses one has taught and how many journals one has contributed to. One constantly faces cut-throat competition since opportunities to do these things are few and far in between. Apart from the job, the politics at work and the lack of recreational opportunities compounds the stress.

“There are absolutely no means of entertainment on campus, and the nearest city is a distance away. There’s no way to relax and unwind after a day at work. I can’t speak to my family about these problems, and there is also no counselling centre for employees.

“It’s all a bit like a pressure cooker.”

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