Bhubaneswar: Leader of Opposition in the Odisha Assembly Naveen Patnaik has written to Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, expressing “deep anguish” over the ordeal faced by a tribal man in Keonjhar district.
The case involves Jitu Munda, a tribal resident of Dianali village in Patna block, who on April 27 exhumed the skeletal remains of his deceased elder sister and carried them nearly 3 km on his shoulders to a branch of Odisha Grameen Bank at Malliposi . His desperate act was an attempt to prove her death and withdraw approximately Rs 19,402 from her savings account.
In his letter to the Finance Minister, Naveen criticised the bank’s initial defence, citing adherence to Reserve Bank of India (RBI) guidelines, as an attempt to “hide behind procedures” while ignoring human dignity. “What is more shocking is the bank’s attempt to justify this inhuman conduct by citing adherence to RBI guidelines. This shows a disturbing intent on the part of the bank officials to hide behind procedures and abandon the very people they are meant to serve. | need not reiterate that in a democracy rules are meant to-empower citizens, not humiliate them,” he wrote.
The bank had earlier stated that the staff only sought required documents and that the man appeared unwilling to follow explained procedures and was intoxicated at the time.
The incident quickly went viral through videos and photos, sparking outrage on social media platforms like X, where users highlighted bureaucratic insensitivity and the challenges faced by illiterate and poor citizens in rural banking. It has also received coverage from international outlets, the LoP noted.
“… this incident though isolated gives us an insight to put in place a more humane banking administration
especially in remote tribal areas. To begin with, I urge you to ensure that clear accountability be immediately fixed for this shocking lapse. This will send a clear signal to all rural banks to guarantee citizen centric service delivery with empathy and compassion,” Naveen said, urging Sitharaman’s intervention to prevent a recurrence “anywhere else in the country”.
The initial investigation by Revenue Divisional Commissioner (RDC), Northern Division, Sangram Keshari Mohapatra had also pointed to negligence by the bank staff, who allegedly did not cooperate with him. “I spoke to the bank officials and Jitu Munda. Preliminary findings indicate that the bank was at fault. Munda and his sister had visited the bank several times in the past and withdrawn money. Munda is not illiterate, but he is ignorant of banking procedures,” Mohapatra told reporters.
Meanwhile, the remains have been reburied, and the bank has since released the funds to the family after completing necessary paperwork with local assistance. The administration have also extended support, including old-age pension for Jitu Munda and other aid.
