CA Anna Sebastian Perayil’s Death: ICAI Sets Up Stress Management Group, Plans Counselling Desk

ICAI, the apex body of chartered accountants in India, has decided to set up a dedicated group to suggest steps to manage stress among its members. The ICAI is also planning to create a help desk to counsel those dealing with high work pressure.**

The ICAI also plans to develop peer support networks for chartered accountants, where members can share experiences, seek advice, and collaborate to address challenges related to stress management.

ICAI President Ranjeet Kumar Agarwal has said the institute strongly urges organisations to implement balanced work policies that promote employee health and reduce stress.

Anna Sebastian Perayil’s Death

The ICAI’s move has come after the death of 26-year-old chartered accountant Anna Sebastian Perayil. Anna, who passed her CA exams in 2023 and worked at the EY Pune office for four months, died in July.

Letter to EY by Anna’s Mother

Anna’s mother, Anita Augustine, blamed the young CA’s death on a “backbreaking workload”. In a letter to EY India Chairman Rajiv Memani, Anita described the circumstances that led to her daughter’s death. She said that Anna was overworked with a "backbreaking workload" as a new employee, which affected her "physically, emotionally, and mentally". Anita also called Anna’s death a “wake-up call” for the company to reflect on its work culture and prioritise employees’ well-being.

EY India Chairman’s Post

Later, EY India Chairman Rajiv Memani expressed regret at not attending the funeral of the 26-year-old employee and said he would not rest until achieving the goal of a harmonious workplace. In a post on LinkedIn, Memani said he was "deeply saddened" by the death and, as a father, could only imagine the grief of the family.

With the incident catching attention on social media, he said he was aware that people have commented on some of EY's work practices. "It has always been very important to us to create a healthy workplace and we attach the highest importance to the well-being of our people," he added.