Bhubaneswar, May 1: Jeetu Munda, the man from Keonjhar who garnered national attention for carrying his deceased sister’s skeleton to a bank to prove her death and claim her funds, has now become the recipient of several government benefits and private donations.
Following intervention from Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, the Keonjhar district administration swiftly provided social security support to 50-year-old Jeetu Munda. District officials confirmed this on Friday.
Within hours of Revenue Divisional Commissioner, Northern Division, S.K. Mohapatra's visit to Munda’s village, Dianali in Patana block, electricity was supplied to Munda’s and his brother's households. The visit on Thursday aimed to address the situation and gather details.
In addition to the immediate help, Munda has been enrolled in a state government financial assistance program that will provide him with monthly support. He was also issued a ration card, enabling him to receive 35 kilograms of rice free each month, officials reported.
When the skeleton incident came to light on April 27, the state government acted swiftly. A death certificate was issued for Munda’s late sister, Kalra Munda, and the funds deposited in her account were transferred to Jeetu within 24 hours.
The incident began when Munda exhumed his sister’s remains, who had passed away in January. He then walked three kilometers to the Maliposi branch of Odisha Grameen Bank, presenting the skeleton as evidence of her death to withdraw her funds. A video of this shocking act quickly went viral on social media.
The next day, Indian Overseas Bank, the sponsor of the rural bank, issued a statement clarifying that the incident likely stemmed from a misunderstanding of the claim process and the bank's insistence on formal procedures.
Munda, however, stood by his actions, saying, “I was told to bring my sister to the bank to withdraw the money. Even after I explained that she was deceased, they insisted I bring her for a signature. That’s why I exhumed her remains and brought the skeleton,” Munda shared during his meeting with the RDC on Thursday.
The 50-year-old expressed that he felt no shame over the event, adding, “If I hadn’t brought the skeleton to the bank, the money from my sister’s account would never have been given to our family. I did what had to be done. What else could I do when no one would listen to my concerns?”
Keonjhar District Collector Vishal Singh confirmed that upon learning of the incident, Munda was provided with ₹30,000 from the District Red Cross Fund. “Humanity took precedence over procedure. He received ₹19,402, the total amount from his sister's account, including interest,” Singh stated.
In addition to government assistance, Munda received substantial support from private donors. A Delhi-based coaching center donated ₹10 lakh to Munda's account at a local bank in Keonjhar. MP Sanjay Singh also contributed ₹50,000 to assist him.
