Post News Network
Sinapali, Feb 8: With the ongoing probe into the alleged starvation death of a man from Bharuamunda village under the block in Nuapada district not yielding any concrete result, the administration’s attempt to keep the matter under wraps has angered the villagers. Inspite of the villagers claiming Digasan Jagat died due to lack of food for several days, villagers have questioned the manner in which the administration has approached the probe into the starvation death. Even though Jagat was not given
subsidized rice under any government scheme, the false claim of the officials of issuing job cards and Annapurna Yojana cards to Jagat has irked villagers who have called it an act to hush up the matter, sources added.
The villagers have also ridiculed the claims of officials that he was being served food twice a day from the local Anganwadi centre. Many villagers claimed that the claims of officials are blatant lies as supply of funds from the government was stopped in November last. They also said that Jagat’s wife had died a few years ago. He had been leading a miserable life alone in the village after his son and daughter-in-law migrated to Andhra Pradesh to work as labourers. The villagers said Jagat could stay in the village as some persons gave their food to him. His life could have been saved had the officials concerned intervened in time, they said. The villagers also rejected the officials’ claim of Jagat being incapable of building his own house. The officials have been spreading lies as they did not sanction any funds under any of the government-sponsored housing schemes for Jagat, who lived his entire life either under a tree or in his dilapidated houses. Contacted, district social welfare officer Trinath Padhi, who conducted an inquiry, said he has already submitted a report to the district collector.
