Tribal Man in Odisha Faces Social Boycott, Hosts Community Feast After March with Sister's Skeleton
Introduction to the Incident
A tribal man from Odisha, Jitu Munda, was forced to perform his sister's last rites and host a community feast under the threat of social boycott after his march to a bank with her skeleton drew global attention.
The incident occurred when Munda was asked to furnish proof of death to withdraw money from his deceased sister's account, and he exhumed her skeletal remains to show as proof to bank authorities.
Donations have poured in for Munda since the disturbing visuals of him walking with the skeleton went viral, with more than ₹10 lakh either paid or promised.
Background of the Incident
Jitu Munda and his sister, Kalara Munda, had made eight withdrawals ranging between ₹100 and ₹500 from her account before her death.
The account had around ₹19,300, which was released by the bank after the Keonjhar district administration issued a death certificate and legal heir certificate.
Munda was unaware of banking procedures and was compelled to exhume his sister's body to show as proof to bank authorities.
Community Feast and Support
The village, Diananali under Patna block in Keonjhar district, was abuzz with preparations for a community feast, where a fresh memorial was built with bricks and cement.
A woman from the village explained that in the Ho tribe, exhuming a body after burial is not allowed, and if someone does so, the last rites must be performed again.
Physics Wallah founder Alakh Pandey donated ₹10 lakh, while Aam Aadmi Party MP Sanjay Singh announced ₹50,000, and Rajasthan Agriculture Minister Kirodi Lal Meena promised ₹1.45 lakh.
Government Response and Public Support
The local sarpanch oversaw the community feast and the construction of the memorial, while an electricity connection was swiftly provided to Munda's home.
Ganesh Ram Singh Khuntia, Odisha's Forest and Climate Change minister, attended the community feast, and the Keonjhar district administration issued a death certificate and legal heir certificate, enabling the bank to release the ₹19,300 within hours.
The incident has drawn attention to the plight of tribal communities in India and the need for better access to banking services and social support.
Conclusion
The incident involving Jitu Munda and his sister's skeleton has highlighted the struggles faced by tribal communities in India and the importance of social support and access to banking services.
The outpouring of donations and support for Munda is a testament to the power of community and the need for greater awareness and understanding of the issues faced by marginalized communities.