Karwar: After failing to get a death certificate of her husband for about two years, Geetha of Majali village in Karwar has submitted a peculiar memorandum with the summary- “Is my husband alive? If yes, please find him……."
It is not that Geetha does not know that her husband is dead. Lokesh Naik who worked as a rickshaw driver, died mysteriously on May 25, 2015 when he was in custody in connection with a case. But she had to raise this question with the district administration as she is unable to get the death certificate of her husband even one and a half years after running from pillar to post!
Geetha, who now runs the family, is in great difficulty working as a helper in a school on temporary basis. "My husband died when he was in custody on May 25, 2015. We had cremated the body after the post-mortem was conducted the next day. But even after about two years I am unable to get the death certificate of my husband!" Geetha told Deccan Chronicle after submitting the memorandum to Additional DC Prasanna.
“I am living in a small house with my son. I get a small salary (about 3,000) working as a helper in a school. I am unable to get even the widow pension or any other facility from the government as I cannot produce the death certificate of my husband,” she said.
Family members of Lokesh allege that his death was a murder as they had seen bruises on his body. A complaint was also filed with the Human Rights Commission.
“About two months ago when State Human Rights Commission chairperson had visited the district, Janashakthi Vedike president Madhav Naik had brought our problem to the notice of the commission. Though the DC had assured to provide the death certificate, it still remains a promise,” she added.
“My husband is dead and the authorities have to provide me the death certificate. If they do not give the certificate then the administration has to agree that he is alive and find him,” she added.
