29-year-old leaves dream “sarkaari naukri" with no plan B; 'I had slowly started hating...'

Today, when financial security is often valued above personal well-being, stories of individuals prioritising mental health over stable careers stand out. Especially in what is referred as “sarkaari naukri”, especially in India!Government jobs are seen as the ultimate goal, offering stability, status, and lifelong security. But what happens when that job starts to take a toll on your inner peace?A young woman from Delhi has become the center of a growing online discussion after choosing to walk away from a prestigious government job for the sake of her mental health.

She shared her story through Instagram reels, and it has gone viral online.

What did she write on her post?

A 29-year-old woman from Delhi has gone viral after she decided to leave her government job, choosing mental health over job security. Vaani, who was working as a probationary officer at Punjab National Bank (PNB), shared her decision on her social media post.

Vaani joined the bank in 2022 after clearing the IBPS exam and completing her training.

She was posted in Meerut as a Scale One Officer. While the job came with the usual perks of a “sarkaari naukri,” Vaani explained that the pressure and environment slowly wore her down.

Vaani said her job changed her as a person

“I used to be such a happy-go-lucky person, but over the past three years, I had slowly started hating the person I was becoming. I became grumpy and easily annoyed. It was time to choose mental peace over financial stability,” she said in her Instagram reel.

In the caption, she added, “Not all heroes wear capes… some just quit jobs. So I closed the chapter that was no longer serving me.”Social media responseWhile her story inspired many, she also got some backlash, as several users pointed out that women are more able to make such choices because society doesn’t expect them to be sole earners.One user commented, “But didi apka kya hai, aap to shaadi kar loge aur ladka apka ghar chala lega.

Bechare ladke kya karenge...” Another said, “Women can quit. Sadly, men don’t have an option like quitting a job, they would forever be labeled as a failure.”Despite such remarks, many supported Vaani. One user wrote, “The decision you made shows how strong and clear you are in life.” Another commented, “It takes courage to choose mental peace over money.”

Vaani later addressed the criticism, saying, “Sab log judge karte hai without stepping into the other person’s shoes.

Mujhe bhi ye job bhot mehnat se mili thi, dream job jaise thi lekin mujhe nahi pata tha ki asliyat kuch aisi hogi.”She clarified that she had no clear Plan B, but felt confident in her decision to step away from a role that no longer aligned with her well-being. “The happiness and mental peace you get after leaving a place where you don’t belong is far superior to any regret you might have,” she said.