KOCHI: An employee's family has complained of occupational harassment at the Coir Board. The family of Section Officer Jolly Madhu, a native of Vennala, Kochi, has filed a complaint against the heads of the Coir Board's Kochi office. The family alleged that Jolly became seriously ill due to work pressure and occupational harassment by superiors. Jolly is undergoing treatment on a ventilator at a private hospital in Ernakulam. She is in a critical condition following the brain injury.

The family alleged that Jolly, who has served for 30 years, was not even given the consideration of being a cancer survivor. The family has filed a complaint against the former secretary and heads to the present secretary. The complaint alleges that medical leave was not granted, that she was transferred to Andhra Pradesh without any reason, that her salary was withheld for five months, and that she was threatened by higher officials.

Relatives say that Jolly suffered a brain injury when she started writing a letter of apology at home on the 31st after her secretary asked to send it to the chairman. The medical board had advised not giving her any transfer as she is a cancer survivor. It is alleged that her superiors mentally harassed her for complaining to the Prime Minister and the President about the workplace harassment.