Gautam Sarkar May 23, 2018 00:00 IST
Naugachia: Rajiv Kumar Ranjan, block development officer (BDO) in Bhagalpur district's Naugachia, has showcaused a panchayat worker for uploading a video clip on social media alleging that a woman had died in Dholbazza panchayat because she had not received her pension for two years.
The BDO denied that the 65-year-old widow died due to non-payment of the pension.
Radha Devi (65), a resident of Dholbazza panchayat located across river Kosi under the jurisdiction of Naugachia block, died in penury on the morning of May 21.
Vikash Kumar Rajak, a panchayat worker, made a video related to the death and uploaded it on social media.
The clip alleged that Radha Devi had died in depression after not receiving her pension for the past two years.
She lost her husband around 10 years ago. Her two sons who live separately. Except for a small hut, Radha had nothing and used to arrange funds from the old-age pension she used to receive.
"She had to run from pillar to post to get her old-age pension of Rs 400 per month; her frequent visits to the bank and the block office proved futile," the video alleged.
Raj Kumar Mandal, one of Radha's sons, whose version was shown in the video, told reporters that around two years ago his mother received around Rs 2,800 as old-age pension but thereafter she did not receive a single paisa from the government.
"If she had received her old-age pension regularly, she would not have died," he claimed.
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Bhagalpur district magistrate Pranav Kumar was not available for comment, but the Naugachia BDO said Radha Devi had died because of illness and there was no connection with the pension.
"We arranged Rs 3,000 immediately under the government's Kabir Antosthi Yojana for the family to conduct her last rites," Ranjan told reporters.
Asked about the pending old-age pension of Radha, the BDO said he would conduct an inquiry.
Radha Devi's is not an isolated case.
A senior district official admitted on condition of anonymity that over 80 per cent beneficiaries of different government-sponsored social schemes were not getting their money regularly.
"The problem started soon after the process was initiated to link the bank accounts of beneficiaries with Aadhaar. We are trying to rectify it," he said.
However, the BDO has asked the panchayat worker in what capacity he made the video clip and posted it on social media.
"It's against the norms and breach of discipline; a panchayat worker is not entitled to address the media. I have asked him to reply within 24 hours. Else, I will take appropriate action," the BDO said.
Panchayat worker Vikash Kumar Rajak was not available for comment but villagers in Dholbazza on Tuesday defended him.
"He doesn't do any wrong, rather he has exposed the reality here. He should not be punished," one of the villagers said.
