Former Chief Minister and Opposition leader Arjun Munda came down heavily on the Government and called for a probe into the death of one tribal villager Kamlesh Munda, who allegedly died due to starvation. The former CM visited Betulkhurd under Gola block in Ramgarh district on Saturday and met the only kin of the deceased.
The youth, Kamlesh Munda (18), whose other family members had died about 10 years ago due to starvation according to locals, was found dead in his hut a couple of days back. However, the district administration claimed that the youth was suffering from epilepsy and he died because of the disease. The administration also maintained that Munda was supplied around 40 kg foodgrains about a week back.
The Opposition leader, after meeting the locals and the deceased boy’s kin raised serious concerns on the credibility of the Government that is indifferent to the agonies of about 35 lakh poor families of the State. Munda said that the area is near the Chief Minister’s native place in Ramgarh and if an incident like starvation takes place in the area, it is a matter of concern for the whole State.
“The Government is a failure in discharging its basic duties of serving the poor. If the poor die due of lack of food in the State despite of dozens of welfare schemes running for providing them foodgrains and jobs, it proves that the Government is apathetic to the poor residents of Jharkhand,” Munda said.
The former CM also met Ramgarh SP, SDO and other senior officials and enquired about the circumstances in which the youth was forced to stay alone despite it was known that he was suffering from epilepsy and why he was not supported by the Government. He also demanded a probe in the death of the teenager.
Notably, the cousin of Kamlesh Munda said that his brother was also going through malnutrition apart from the neurological disease. According to the Deputy Commissioner of Ramgarh, the death was caused due to epilepsy. The DC has ordered an enquiry. The Additional Collector of Ramgarh is looking into the matter.
Kamlesh’s father, mother and sister had died to due poverty and malnutrition in 2003 and the matter was brought to Jharkhand High Court’s notice. The Government then admitted Kamlesh and his brother Sunil to a Government school with hostel facility. But after they failed in their board examination, they were sent back to their home. Kamlesh stayed at his home due to illness and his brother used to work as a daily wage labourer.
Meanwhile, three persons died in a road accident near Barhi in Hazaribagh on Saturday when they were en route to attend BJP workers’ conference.
Two youths riding a motorcycle hit the divider of the road between Barhi and Chauparan and died on the spot while two others got seriously injured. They hit an old person on the road resulting in the latter’s death.
The former CM, after getting the information of the accident, announced `5 lakh compensation each to the family members of the two deceased persons by the BJP. Munda alongwith Dhanbad MP PN Singh and Food and Civil Supplies Minister of Madhya Pradesh Vijay Shah addressed a huge workers conference at Barhi in Hazaribagh district on Saturday.