For the past five years, Saket Kunwar has been waiting to receive the Government aid she deserves to sustain her family after her husband Kishor Kumar Singh, a Panchayat Samiti member, was murdered by extremists.
Saket married Kishor back in 2005, and have two children from the marriage, one eight years old and another six years old. Their peaceful family life was disturbed when Maoists dragged Kishor out of his house under Panki police station in Palamu on January 18, 2011.
As per norms, next of kin of a person killed by extremists is entitled to ex gratia monetary relief of Rs 3 lakh and a job on compensatory grounds, but Saket received only a portion of the compensation. She came with her pleas to CM Janta Darbar on Tuesday, where Urban Development Minister CP Singh attended to plaintiffs from all over the State.
“Only Rs one lakh was given as compensation but no job was offered as per the provisions. I have been running from pillar to post for a job so that I can support my family. A letter addressed to Deputy Commissioner, Palamu in this regard did not achieved any results either,” she said.
listening to her request, Singh instructed Additional Chief Secretary (Home) NN Pandey to sort out this issue promptly. It is not acceptable that people are harassed for such trivial matters, Singh told Pandey over telephone.
More than 100 complainants arrived at the weekly public court from all over the State to find solutions to their problems pertaining to overdue government services, lack of basic amenities, delayed investigation in criminal cases and more. Among them were Pradeep Kumar and his companions, who owned makeshift shops near Birsa Munda bus stand but were evicted when the terminus was reformed.
“We have been doing business in Khadgarha from the very beginning, when the place began as a bus terminus, but were removed when it was given its new form. This has resulted in a crisis of livelihood for all those who earned their daily bread from such shops,” stated Pradeep.
Talking to them, the Urban Development Minister assured them that the bus stand has been surveyed for making several small shops. They will be allocated to the displaced shopkeepers when ready, he added.
“But how will we sustain our families till the time this shops are ready for business. At least a temporary arrangement should be made so that we can set up shop once again,” Pradeep suggested.
Soni Devi, another of the complainants from Indrapuri, in Ranchi, pled for help to save her four year old son Himanshu Thakur who has been suffering from a tumour at the base of her spinal column.
“The tumour developed due to medical negligence during his inoculation shots. He was admitted at Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences where the doctors treated him for tuberculosis. When Himanshu’s condition worsened they referred him to Vellore,” she said.
Soni added, “The doctors at Vellore have asked for Rs one lakh to surgically remove Himanshu’s tumour. The surgery has been scheduled on May 7 but the income certificate required for avail a waiver will take another 20 to 25 days.”
Singh referred her to Circle Officer with orders of issuing an income certificate without further delay. He also asked her to meet Civil Surgeon, Ranchi to chalk out an estimate of involved costs.