Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) president Jayadev Jena on Monday visited Diptinagar of R Udaygiri in Gajapati district to meet the family members of nursing student Sunita Raita who committed suicide on Wednesday after being denied of 16 months’ stipend.
Jena said he met Sunita’s father Sudam Raita and discussed about the incident in detail with him. He said Sudam told him that the Project Administrator (PA) of the Integrated Tribal Development Agency (ITDA) and the Gajapati district Collector were solely responsible for the death of his daughter.
Sunita had talked to Kalyan Kumar Rath and one Rao of the ITDA before committing suicide. These officers had scolded her daughter during the conversation, Jena said quoting Sudam.
Jena said they would take the issue to the streets against the Government’s lackadaisical attitude towards tribals. He also demanded dismissal of district Collector and ITDA PA and other officials for dereliction of duty.
Jena, who gave Rs10, 000 as monetary help to Sudam, demanded that the family be provided with Rs10 lakh as compensation. “If the State Govt does not take appropriate action against the officers, my party will continue protest,” Jena said, adding that they would submit a memorandum to the Governor in the regard soon.
Among others, Paralakhemundi MlA K Suriya Rao, former MP Pradeep Majhi and R Udaygiri block Chairman Dasarathy Gamango accompanied Jena.