Woman SSA trainer dies soon after protest fast

Samastipur: A key resource person (KRP) working under Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan in the district, Pinki Devi, who was on an indefinite hunger strike along with her colleagues here at the district programme officer's (DPO) office demanding payment of pending wages died in a private clinic on Friday.

The KRPs train tola sevaks in villages, who are engaged in educating primary schoolchildren were not getting their remuneration for the last three months.

Following her death, other KPRs and their supporters blocked the main road of the town for over three hours with Pinki's body alleging apathy of the officials concerned, demanding action and compensation to the bereaved family. The blockade was lifted following the intervention of Sadar SDO and the body was sent to the sadar hospital for post mortem.

Sources said as many as 18 KRPs went on an indefinite fast on Tuesday but the DPO did not listen to their grievances. No medicare was provided to the fasting KRPs. When the condition of some of the woman KRPs deteriorated, they were admitted to the sadar hospital by their sympathisers but the district administration did not come to their rescue.

According to police sources, Ranjana, a KRP, was hospitalised on Wednesday and two others--Pramila and Sangita--on Thursday. On Thursday evening, district education officer B K Ojha and DPO Sandhya Kumari convinced the agitating KRPs to call off their hunger strike. However, soon after that Pinki reached her father Devendra Jha's house at Rudauli village and started vomiting. She was rushed to a private clinic where she breathed her last. The deceased woman is survived by her husband, who is a marginal farmer and four children including three daughters and a son, said police.

According to her colleagues, Pinki had always championed the cause of dalits in her village. She died because of the apathy of the officials. No medical check-up of the KRPs was done, said one of them.

Police sources said DM Pranav Kumar has assured all help. He also gave Rs 20,000 to Pinki's family for her last rites.