Keonjhar: A tribal man from Keonjhar district, who had drawn national attention after carrying his deceased sister’s skeletal remains to a bank to prove her death, has now been brought under multiple government welfare schemes and received financial assistance from both official and private sources.
The intervention of Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi prompted swift action by the district administration, which extended immediate social security support to 50-year-old Jitu Munda, officials said on Friday.
Munda, a resident of Dianali village under Patana block, and his brother were provided electricity connections within hours of a visit by Revenue Divisional Commissioner (Northern Division) S.K. Mohapatra, who inquired into the incident on Thursday.
Officials said Munda has been enrolled in a state-run monthly financial assistance scheme and issued a ration card entitling him to 35 kg of free rice every month.
The administration also expedited the process of issuing a death certificate for his sister, Kalra (56), who had died in January. Jitu Munda was recognised as the legal heir, and the amount deposited in her bank account—Rs 19,402 including interest—was handed over to him within 24 hours of the incident coming to light on April 27.
The episode had sparked outrage after Munda exhumed his sister’s remains and walked nearly three kilometres to a local branch of Odisha Grameen Bank, presenting the skeleton as proof of death. A video of the incident had gone viral on social media.
A day later, Indian Overseas Bank, which sponsors the rural bank, said the situation appeared to have arisen due to a lack of awareness about claim settlement procedures, coupled with the individual’s reluctance to follow the process explained by bank officials.
However, Munda maintained that he had been asked to produce his sister in person to withdraw the money.
“I informed them that my sister had died, but they still insisted on bringing her for a signature. That is why I brought the skeleton,” he told officials during the inquiry.
Keonjhar Collector Vishal Singh said the administration acted on humanitarian grounds.
“He was provided Rs 30,000 from the District Red Cross Fund immediately. The administration prioritised humanity over procedure,” Singh said.
Apart from government assistance, Munda has also received private donations. A Delhi-based coaching institute deposited Rs 10 lakh in his name, while AAP Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh contributed Rs 50,000.
Preliminary findings of a government probe suggest that bank staff “did not cooperate” adequately with Munda, an official said, adding that further inquiry is underway.
