Dhanbad, Oct 22: A rickshaw puller who was battling ill health and poor economic condition died in Taranagan under Jharia Police Station area of this district prompting many to say that the man had died due to hunger as for the last four years despite running after government offices he could not get his ration card made.
As soon as the news spread a team of officials from Ranchi and Dhanbad reached the house of the poor man and tried to find out the reasons behind his death. Director of the Food and Civil Supplies Department Sunhal Kumar Sinha alongwith Dhanbad DC A Dode and SSP Manoj Ratan Chouthe visited the home of the deceased Baijnath Das and met the family members.
Later addressing a press conference at the collectorate here DC A Dode said that his death was unfortunate and ruled out that the man had died out of hunger. The DC said that the man was ill for the past one month and instead of undergoing proper treatment use to bring medicines from a local shop and consume them. He said that four other members of the family also earn and make a monthly income between Rs 2,500 to Rs 3,000.
The DC said that the widow of the man and her daughter said that Baijnath was given Rice, Dal and Vegetables on the day he died to eat but as he was unwell he refused to take food. He said that the family had a ration card in the name of his elder brother Jaggarnath Das who died four years ago. From that card they had got the ration for the past couple of years.
Mr Dode said that Baijnath had applied for ration card six months ago to his ward councilor but since the application was not given at the right place therefore his card could not be made. He said that on September 22 Baijnath had applied online to get his ration card made and the relevant documents were submitted on October 18 and as per the provisions he would have been provided ration card within 60 days. The Dc assured that the family would be provided all possible help as per government schemes.