NEW DELHI: Citing Delhi's air pollution as the reason, the president of finance of a pharmaceutical manufacturing company has resigned. An internal email from Akums Drugs revealed that Rajkumar Bafna resigned effective Dec 31.
In a message sent to a senior official on Dec 3, Bafna said, "I would like to inform you that due to Delhi pollution level, I am resigning from my position as president finance. Kindly relieve me asap." The company formally acknowledged his resignation on Dec 12, attributing it to health concerns, and confirmed that he would be officially relieved of his duties on Dec 31.
A senior company official confirmed that Bafna was suffering from a persistent cough and other symptoms aggravated by the pollution. "Bafna has lived in Mumbai and worked for us for approximately six months. I think for people who aren't born in the city, it gets very difficult to cope with the pollution here. Yes, he cited pollution as the reason for his resignation. He must be used to a different environment and bad air here must have affected him," confirmed Sanjeev Jain, co-founder and managing director of Akums Drugs. Bafna could not be reached for comment.
Jain added, "I have a friend whose child has moved to Bengaluru due to this. There's a sense of fear about how things will be, about what it will be like. Mentally, I think it's one of the biggest challenges."
This is not an isolated case. A few months ago, a professional shared how his spouse, unable to tolerate Delhi's suffocating smog and worried about their child's health, left a prestigious govt job and moved away. There are many more like them — families choosing to leave their well-to-do positions in search of cleaner air and a healthier environment.
The recent resignation has sparked widespread discussion on social media. Users on X commented, "So the time has come when people are moving out of Delhi." Another wrote, "Every year, more and more people reassess their lives in Delhi. Is it worth living in such a polluted environment?"
The incidents reflect a growing sense of frustration and fear over Delhi's worsening pollution crisis. The city's air quality, once seen as a seasonal inconvenience or a policy issue, is now increasingly shaping people's life choices.
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Meghna Dhulia is an Assistant News Editor at The Times of India, ...
Read MoreMeghna Dhulia is an Assistant News Editor at The Times of India, bringing over a decade of experience in journalism. She specialises in education reporting, covering both foundational and higher education with a clear, insightful lens. Her work sheds light on critical issues shaping the future—ranging from policy impact and systemic challenges to compelling human stories from the field. Her experience also extends to the news desk, where she has overseen editorial workflows, ensuring readers receive balanced, reliable and impactful news.
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