Bhubaneswar, 02 May (H.S.): A shocking incident at a rural bank branch in Odisha has triggered widespread outrage, with Leader of the Opposition Naveen Patnaik calling for immediate accountability and reforms in banking practices.

In a letter addressed to Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, former Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik highlighted an alleged incident that occurred on April 27 at the Malliposhi branch of Odisha Gramya Bank in Keonjhar district.

According to the letter, a tribal man, Jitu Munda, was reportedly forced to exhume the skeletal remains of his deceased sister and present them at the bank as proof of her death in order to claim pending dues. This requirement arose after repeated unsuccessful attempts to secure assistance or clarification from bank officials.

Patnaik termed the incident deeply disturbing and raised serious concerns over the bank's reported justification, which cited adherence to Reserve Bank of India (RBI) guidelines. He noted that such actions reflect an overemphasis on procedures at the cost of human dignity and compassion.

The incident has sparked strong public reaction across Odisha and has reportedly drawn attention from international media as well.

In his communication, Patnaik urged the Finance Minister to ensure immediate accountability for the lapse and to take corrective measures to promote a more humane and citizen-centric approach in rural banking, particularly in tribal and remote areas. He emphasized that such action would send a clear message across the banking system to prioritize empathy and service delivery.

Expressing confidence in prompt intervention, Patnaik stated that with decisive action, instances of inhuman treatment could be prevented in the future.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Monalisa Panda