Bhubaneswar: BJD chief Naveen Patnaik on Saturday asked Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman for “compassionate intervention” over an incident in Odisha, where a tribal man exhumed the skeleton of his sister and submitted it as proof of withdrawing money from a rural bank.
Patnaik, in a letter, also urged the Union Finance Minister to ensure clear accountability is immediately established for this latest incident that took place in Keonjhar district.
“I urge you to ensure clear accountability is immediately established for this shocking error. This will send a clear signal to all rural banks to ensure that citizen-centric services are delivered with empathy and compassion,” he said.
Patnaik also expressed confidence that with Sitharaman’s “compassionate intervention”, this kind of inhumane treatment of citizens will not be repeated anywhere else in the country.
Pointing out that he wrote with a sense of deep pain and urgency to highlight the incident that took place on April 27 at the Malibusi branch of Odisha Gramin Bank, Patnaik said that Jitu Munda was forced to exhume his sister’s body and carry it to the bank as proof of her death in order to withdraw his outstanding dues.
The tribal man had exhumed the skeletal remains of his sister Kalra Munda, who died in January. He then walked about 3 km to the Malibusi branch of Odisha Gramin Bank and presented her before the official as proof of her death. A video of Munda carrying the skeleton went viral on social media.
Referring to the findings of the state government’s investigation into the matter, Patnaik pointed out that the tribal man had to carry his sister’s skeleton after several unsuccessful visits to the bank, as he failed to get help or clarification from the officials to solve his problem.
“What is most shocking is the bank’s attempt to justify this inhumane behavior by citing adherence to RBI guidelines. This shows a disturbing intent on the part of bank officials to hide behind procedures and abandon the people they are supposed to serve,” Patnaik said.
“In a democracy, rules are meant to empower citizens, not humiliate them. This horrific incident has sparked public outrage across Odisha and drawn the attention of international media as well,” the five-time former Odisha chief minister mentioned in the letter.
The BJP president also said that the incident, though isolated, gives everyone an insight to create a more humane banking administration, especially in remote tribal areas.
Meanwhile, Patnaik also expressed his appreciation to Physics Wallah Founder and CEO Alakh Pandey, who donated $10 lakh to Jeetu Munda.
“I am deeply touched by your humanitarian gesture of donation $“10 lakhs to Geetu Munda, who endured the tragic ordeal of exhuming his sister’s mortal remains to present them as proof of death before a bank,” Patnaik wrote to Pandey.
“This heartbreaking incident has shaken the conscience of all of us. Your noble and compassionate act stands as a beacon for humanity, and I sincerely appreciate your generosity and compassion,” the BJD chief said.
“Thank you for your kind words and blessings. I am truly humbled by your appreciation. In difficult times, standing with humanity is the least we can do,” Pandey wrote in his response.
This article was generated from an automated news feed without any modifications to the text.
