The State Government on Wednesday claimed that death of Samdei Kunwar (80), who said to have died due to cold for want of a blanket in front of Sub-Divisional Officer’s (SDO) office in Garhwa on Monday, was natural. Jharkhand Government’s Spokesperson and Principal Secretary of Personnel, Administrative Reforms and Rajbhasha department, Nidhi Khare, said that the woman had already been provided two blankets by two different sources and was getting benefits of all schemes being run by the State Government.
“An initial report from Civil Surgeon indicates that her death was not unnatural and she did not die due to cold for want of blanket.
The fact that she was wearing a sweater and a scarf at the time of death, itself indicates that she did not die of cold,” said Khare. The report submitted by Deputy Development Commissioner of Garhwa also asserted that she had already been provided two blankets from two different sources, one from Special Director Social Welfare Department and other one from Pramukh Tetri Devi just 20 days before, she added.
“A report submitted by the district administration also stated that the deceased was a Priority Household Card (No- 2000153742) holder, who had received 35 kg of grains recently on December 18 and was also getting social security pension of `700 per month,” she said.
Her bank account details proved that the amount has been withdrawn even in the month of December, added Khare.
District Administration’s report also says that she had developed a habit of begging around government offices and used to walk from her village Sangrahe to the Collectorate daily.
“Since her son Ramashish Bind along with his family had been living somewhere in West Bengal working as daily wage earners at a brick kiln, the old lady was staying alone in her house who used to walk to the Collectorate on daily basis begging with the people for the last few years,” said the Principal Secretary.
The report submitted by Circle Officer also stated that the deceased has an ancestral property at Sangrahe Khurd village having a room in it made of tiled roof along with a puja room inside the campus.
In addition to that, Rs 2 lakh had been allotted for Garhwa for bonfire at different locations for the poor and downtrodden to save them from cold wave which was executed efficiently in the entire district.
A detailed report is still awaited to be submitted by Divisional Commissioner and State Project Officer of Disaster Management Colonel SK Srivastava to the Home Department within two days.
Meanwhile, Palamu Commissioner Rajiv Arun Ekka today inspected the spot at SDO campus where an old woman Syamdei Kunwar had died.
The Commissioner alongwith DC Neha Arora inspected the house of the deceased at village Sangrhe and the spot where the old woman was found dead.