Nuapada: Red tape and the alleged lackadaisical attitude of the authorities often prove too costly for the common people. Jagdish, an especially-abled man from Kalyanpur village in Sadar block of Odisha’s Nuapada district, proved this with his life.
Jagdish, who attempted suicide in front of the Tehshilar’s office on Thursday, breathed his last at the VIMSAR Hospital in Burla at 11.00 pm last night during treatment.
According to reports, Jagdish had inherited 3.12 acres of land from his late father Atmaram Harijan and wanted to sell it. As per Section 22 of the Odisha Land Reforms Act, 1960, Jagdish needed a caste certificate from the Tehsildar office before applying to the Sub-collector’s office seeking permission to sell his land.
Accordingly, Jagadish has submitted a request at the Nuapada Tehshildar’s office for a caste certificate on March 23, 2022. He was asked to get back after six days to collect the certificate but did not receive it till March 15, 2023. He even moved the Collector’s office to expedite matters but received no response.
The inordinate delay in getting the caste certificate, a frustrated Jagdish tried to immolate himself in front of the Tehshildar’s office on Thursday.
He was, however, saved by locals and rushed to the VIMSAR Hospital in critical condition. He had sustained 80% burns and finally succumbed to his injuries on Thursday night.
