The State Government on Saturday acted swiftly to provide much needed relief to a stressed farmer in Jamtara district who had lost his wife, had no money for her funeral and was under extreme financial burden to repay loans.
Taking cognizance of the media reports about farmer Bablu Murmu from Barmundi Village, Karmatand in Jamtra, Chief Minister Raghubar Das directed Chief Secretary Rajbala Verma to extend him all possible help. Verma swiftly directed Agriculture Secretary Pooja Singhal and DC, Jamtara Ramesh Kumar Dubey to spring into action and help the farmer.
led by the DC, a team of Jamtara district administration reached the village and in the presence of the Mukhiya, Pramukh, Gram Pradhan and Manjhi Haram, it granted Murmu cash, eatables, seeds and fertilizers.
Murmu had admitted his wife to PMCH, Dhanbad after she got burn injuries while cooking food at home. However, during treatment in Dhanbad, she succumbed to the injuries on July 26. Murmu had to sell one of his oxen for treatment of his wife and he was left with no money to take her body back home and perform last rites. The body of her wife remained for three days in the hospital. In sheer helplessness the poor farmer had to sell the other ox and also mortgage his land.
The district administration on Saturday gave Murmu Rs 20,000 aid and got his oxen and land back which he had given for Rs 17,000. Rs 3000 was also made available for performing his wife’s last rites. Moreover, a quintal of rice was made available for food and one kit of fertilizer was also given to him. Pigeon pea seed and 25 kg ground nut was provided to him. Also, his farm was got tilled by a tractor.
Das said it was their collective responsibility to help a dutiful farmer who suffered acute economic strain..