Keonjhar: Jitu Munda’s trouble doesn’t seem to be over yet. Denied by Odisha Grameen Bank to withdraw money from his sister’s account and asked to provide her death certificate, Jitu had dug up her skeletal remains and taken it to the bank as proof.The incident created a furore and forced the bank and district administration to step in and hand over her money to Jitu (50).Now, having conducted the last rites of his sister as per local traditions a few months back, Jitu will have to do it all over again, while also throwing a feast for community members.“It is unfortunate. As per our tradition, anyone who buries a body must perform the last rites. Since the burial was done again, he has to conduct the rituals again. We will consult his family and villagers and guide him accordingly,” said Goura Charan Munda, president of Adivasi Ho Samaj Mahasabha.Another community member, Ranaray Mundia, said Jitu would have to organise the customary feast also. “He will spend according to his capacity, but the rites are mandatory,” he added.Jitu said he was relieved having received the money. “I am happy the bank responded and gave me the amount. I will follow my community’s tradition and organise a feast as per my capacity,” he said.Meanwhile, on Wednesday, Sangram Keshari Mohapatra, the revenue divisional commissioner (RDC), Northern Range, began an administrative probe into the circumstances that forced Jitu to carry his sister’s skeletal remains to the bank to prove her death.“The RDC met district officials in Keonjhar on Wednesday evening and is scheduled to visit Dianali village under Patna police limits on Thursday,” a govt official said. The development comes on a day the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) ordered a separate inquiry into the incident.Taking cognisance of a complaint filed by rights activist Manoj Jena, the NHRC directed the Keonjhar district collector and superintendent of police to conduct an inquiry and submit an action taken report within a week. It also asked the chairman of Odisha Grameen Bank to submit a separate action taken report within the same time-frame.According to the complaint, Jitu of Dianali village had approached the Mallipashi branch of Odisha Grameen Bank on April 27 to withdraw money from the account of his deceased sister, Kala Munda (56). The activist alleged that bank officials insisted the account holder must be “physically present” and demanded a death certificate and legal heir certificate to hnd over the money.“In distress, he exhumed his sister’s remains and carried them to the bank,” the complaint stated, terming it a gross violation of human rights.The NHRC observed that the incident indicated “serious violation” of dignity, causing psychological distress to the man and disrespect to the deceased. It said the episode undermined efforts to bring tribal communities into the formal banking system.A BJD fact-finding team led by Ghasipura MLA Badrinarayan Patra visited the village and demanded a judicial probe, calling the incident “inhumane.” BJP MLA Akhila Chandra Naik, however, denied administrative lapses, saying officials acted promptly to assist the man.
