Anita Devi, widow of farmer Baldev Mahto, who allegedly ended his life under pressure of mounting debts, is still awaiting financial assistance to perform the last rites of her husband. The widow, in her thirties, has two children to take care of.
"Except the family benefit of Rs 5,000 given immediately by the officials, I have not received any financial assistance from the Government's side. I have to perform the last rites of my late husband for which I don't have any money. In such circumstances, I will have to take loan from somewhere again, if I have to perform the rites of my husband," said Anita.
She did not want to get into the debt trap again and meet the destiny like her husband, she added.
Anita also said that the district administration is yet to provide the hand pump promised by them near her house even six days after husband’s death.
"They had promised that a deep boring will be dug near my house, the very next day of the incident, but even after passage of seven days, no one has come up to enquire about our well being," said Anita Devi.
The District Administration, however, claimed that a process for widow pension and a house under 'Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana' has been initiated to provide some relief to the family of Baldev Mahto.
"In order to provide immediate relief to the family of Baldev Mahto and Kaleshwar Mahto, Rs 5000 has already been given immediately after their deaths under family benefit scheme. Meanwhile, the process for providing the widow pension and providing a house under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY) is being expedited in case of Anita Devi as an application is still pending for PMAY," said Ranchi DC Manoj Kumar.
"Manorama Devi, however, could not be provided these facilities as her economic condition is not so bad and the family does not even have a BPl card," said the DC.
Family of Kaleshwar Mahto, on the other hand, somehow performed last rites of Kaleshwar Mahtoon Wednesday last, only after accepting donations from friends and relatives.
"As no financial assistance was provided by the State Government, we only had to depend on the donations raised by the family and friends as we cannot afford any further loan," said Manorama Devi.
Kaleshwar Mahto, 44, committed suicide at Semal Beda village on June 10 by hanging himself from a tree near his field in broad day light, while 40-year old Baldev Mahto of Sutiambe village allegedly ended his life on June 15 after jumping into the well near his house.
Apparently both the farmers ended their lives due to pressure of mounting bank loans taken from Kisan Credit Card and damage of crops. Both of them also belonged to villages under Pithoria Police Station.
Meanwhile, the Special Investigation Team (SIT) will take a day or two to submit its report as each and every aspect of the incident are to be taken care of.