Leader of Opposition in the Odisha Legislative Assembly, Naveen Patnaik, has written a strongly worded letter to Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, expressing deep concern over a shocking incident involving a tribal citizen in Keonjhar district.
Alleged Inhumane Treatment at Rural Bank
In his letter, Patnaik highlighted an incident that took place on April 27 at a branch of Odisha Gramya Bank in Keonjhar. A tribal man, Jitu Munda, was reportedly forced to exhume and carry the skeletal remains of his deceased sister to the bank as proof of death to access his rightful dues.
The incident allegedly occurred after repeated attempts by the individual to seek assistance from bank officials failed, leaving him without clear guidance or support.
Criticism of Procedural Justification
Patnaik strongly criticized the bank’s reported justification, which cited adherence to regulatory guidelines. He described this reasoning as deeply troubling, stating that procedures should serve citizens rather than subject them to humiliation.
He emphasized that such actions contradict the principles of a democratic system, where institutions are expected to function with empathy and accountability.
Call for Accountability and Reform
The senior leader urged the Union Finance Ministry to take immediate action by fixing accountability for the incident. He stressed that such measures are necessary to ensure citizen-centric service delivery, particularly in rural and tribal areas where access to institutional support is already limited.
Patnaik also called for reforms to make banking services more humane and accessible, preventing similar incidents in the future.
Incident Draws Widespread Attention
According to the letter, the incident has triggered widespread public outrage across Odisha and has also gained attention in international media, raising concerns about the treatment of vulnerable communities.
Appeal for Compassionate Intervention
Concluding his letter, Patnaik expressed confidence that timely and compassionate intervention by the Finance Minister would help prevent recurrence of such incidents and reinforce accountability within rural banking systems.
