The family of transporter Prakash Pandey who had committed suicide at the BJP state head office in Dehradun in January, has threatened to start an agitation from February 16, if the assurances given by the State Government in the past to the family are not fulfilled by then. His widow, Kamala Pandey said that if the Government doesn’t do as it had assured in the past, the Pandey family along with members of the public will initiate an agitation and sit on dharna.
It will be recalled that when Kathgodam-Haldwani resident Prakash Pandey had committed suicide citing financial woes during January, his family members and locals had become agitated especially after his body was brought here for cremation. As the government was concerned about containing the dissatisfaction, the Nainital district magistrate was then given the task of assuring the bereaved family members and preventing the situation from escalating.
The leader of opposition and Haldwani MlA Indira Hridayesh had also talked to the DM and was told that the government would provide ex-gratia and a Government job to Pandey’s widow. After Pandey’s body was brought here for cremation, it was being said that the family was not willing to conduct the last rites without receiving some assurance of assistance to the bereaved family. It had been stated then that the family would be provided Rs 10 lakh in compensation, Pandey’s widow would be given a Government job and that the educational expenses of their children would also be borne by the authorities.
These assurances were to be fulfilled in one month which ended on February 10. However, in this duration, the state government, including the chief minister himself clarified that there was no provision for the Government providing such assistance to family members of those who commit suicide.
Despite this, the Pandey family remained quite and waited for the one month period to pass after the assurance was reportedly given. With one month passing, the family appeared to have lost patience and addressed members of the local media here on Sunday. Pandey’s widow Kamala Pandey accused the State Government of going back on its words. Addressing the media at her residence, she said that more than one month has passed since the Nainital district magistrate assured Government assistance to the bereaved family.
However, due to governmental apathy, none of the assurances given to the family then have been fulfilled so far. She said that she will sit on protest with her family from February 16 against the State Government’s failure to provide the assured help.
She further alleged that during the past one month, the government officials concerned did not even answer her phone calls.
No representative from the government enquired about the welfare of the family during this period. Meanwhile, it is being said that the when Gram Pradhan, Navin Chandra Pandey contacted the district magistrate over the phone, the official assured some action by February 15.