comScore Gujarat: Tribal Man Ends Life Over Bureaucratic Delay in Caste Certificate Process

Gujarat News, Gujarati News, Latest Gujarati News, Gujarat Breaking News, Gujarat Samachar.

Latest Gujarati News, Breaking News in Gujarati, Gujarat Samachar, ગુજરાતી સમાચાર, Gujarati News Live, Gujarati News Channel, Gujarati News Today, National Gujarati News, International Gujarati News, Sports Gujarati News, Exclusive Gujarati News, Coronavirus Gujarati News, Entertainment Gujarati News, Business Gujarati News, Technology Gujarati News, Automobile Gujarati News, Elections 2022 Gujarati News, Viral Social News in Gujarati, Indian Politics News in Gujarati, Gujarati News Headlines, World News In Gujarati, Cricket News In Gujarati

Vibes Of India
Vibes Of India

Gujarat: Tribal Man Ends Life Over Bureaucratic Delay in Caste Certificate Process

| Updated: January 30, 2025 11:58

A tribal man from Ranakpur, a remote village in Kadana taluka of Mahisagar district, died by suicide on Tuesday after struggling for days to obtain a caste certificate for his daughter. Uda Damor, 45, reportedly took his own life, overwhelmed by the bureaucratic delays that jeopardised his daughter’s job in a Central government department.

What should have been a simple process to provide an English copy of the certificate turned into a tragic ordeal.

On Tuesday, his lifeless body was discovered hanging from a tree on the outskirts of his village. Police found a note in his pocket, in which he reportedly blamed the local administration for forcing him to take such an extreme step.

“He had been going from one office to another to obtain the caste certificate for his daughter,” said Kanti Damor, the deceased’s uncle. “The deceased’s daughter had recently been appointed in the Post Department, but they required the caste certificate in English. The local office kept raising issues and requested documents related to a caste matter from before 1960. Time was running out for her, and he felt he had no other option.”

Uda, a former Gram Rakshak Dal staff member, had reportedly submitted the application for the caste certificate on January 17, although it was dated January 15.

The alleged delay in processing the certificate and the bureaucratic hurdles led to increasing stress for Uda as his daughter’s job opportunity hung in the balance. According to the family, they had been repeatedly asked to resubmit various documents, including one related to a person named Kalu Damor, who was part of their family pedigree.

“They kept turning him away without resolving anything,” said Babu Gala Damor, a local community leader. “Uda was anxious that his daughter might lose her job if the certificate wasn’t processed in time.”

Despite the claims from the family, the Mahisagar district administration has maintained that the caste certificate application was still within the stipulated processing time. Senior officials told a news outlet that the application was received by the mamlatdar office on January 17, but it had not specified which language the certificate was required in. They also pointed to issues with the submitted documentation, particularly a missing document for one of the individuals listed in the family’s pedigree.

The administration asserted that the family was informed of the missing document and that the application was still under review. “The application was received on January 17, and the family submitted the requested documents on January 27. The time lapse between the application and the tragic death was just 11 days, which is within the 45-day period stipulated by the government,” a senior officer explained.

Gujarat Congress President Shaktisinh Gohil expressed grief over the incident. “This government is always a corrupt one. A man’s life is precious. It is shameful that the government is trying to turn a blind eye to adivasis’ issues,” he told Vibes of India.

Shaktisinh Gohil

The family has rejected the explanation given by the local administration, insisting that the delay in processing the certificate caused undue stress for Uda, who feared that his daughter’s job would be jeopardised. “The time was running out, and they kept pushing him back and forth. He could not bear the pressure anymore,” Gala Damor added.

Isudan Gadhvi, President of AAP’s Gujarat unit, alleged that the government’s failure to deliver basic services was directly responsible for Damor’s death. “This is not a suicide; it’s a murder by the BJP administration,” Gadhvi alleged while speaking to VOI.

Isudan Gadhvi

“This government has been in power for 30 years, and they have done nothing for the people. Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel must be held accountable. The process should have been completed within a week, not left to drag on for days,” Gadhvi added.

Manish Doshi, a Gujarat Congress spokesperson, condemned the government for its incompetence. “The BJP government boasts about ‘Digital Gujarat’ and ‘Vibrant Gujarat’, but this tragedy shows the stark reality on the ground. A tribal man was left to suffer just to get a caste certificate, and now he is dead. The process is broken, and the government is responsible,” Doshi told VOI.

Manish Doshi

When approached by VOI, the BJP declined to respond.

The local police have registered a case of accidental death and have sent Damor’s body for post-mortem examination.

Speaking to a section of the media, Additional Superintendent of Police Vijay Bheda confirmed the details of the investigation and said that police were working to verify the authenticity of the note left behind by Uda. “We are investigating the circumstances surrounding his death and the allegations of the local administration’s negligence,” Bheda said.

Meanwhile, the family has refused to accept the body until action is taken against the officers involved.

“We will not accept his body until justice is done. The officers responsible for his death must be held accountable,” said Kanti Damor.

Mahisagar District Collector Neha Kumari was unavailable to comment.

Also Read: Tragic Wednesday! Casualties Feared In Kumbh Mela Stampede

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *