VALPOI
In a tragic incident, an SSC student from Pal-Sattari is believed to have ended his life at his house on Thursday after his family did not have the money to urgently repair his mobile phone.
According to reports, the student was studying in Std X at the Government Secondary School in Thane-Sattari. The school has been conducting online classes on account of the Covid pandemic.
About two days ago, his phone went out of order and he asked his father for money to repair the phone.
His father, was a driver on a private passenger bus, but has been at home as the bus is presently out of operation due to the Covid pandemic.
His grandmother was a beneficiary of the Dayanand Social Security Scheme, while his mother was a beneficiary of the Griha Aadhar scheme.
However, sources said the government had not deposited the amounts from the schemes into their bank accounts and the family was badly in need of funds for sustenance.
Despite the acute financial constraints, the father is reported to have told his son that he would provide some money to repair the phone in two days.
He is believed to have been frustrated over the delay in getting the phone repaired and ended his life in their residence.
The incident took place as the mother was washing clothes behind the house.
A police team went to the site and conducted an investigation and later handed over the body to the family for the final rites, which were performed on Thursday evening.
With virtually all classes at schools in the State going online on account of the Covid pandemic, there has been considerable pressure on families to have mobile phones, PCs or laptops and internet connection to ensure that schoolchildren have access to these online classes.
In many remote areas of Sattari, schoolchildren cannot afford mobile phones or do not have access to internet connectivity.
“The government has not yet given a serious thought to the plight of these students who are from poor families and are struggling to pursue online classes. The consequences can be tragic, as has been in the present case. Who is to be held responsible for the tragic loss of a precious life,” asked a resident of Valpoi.
Recently, three students from poor families in Sattari did not have mobile phones and had been unable to pursue online classes for about two months.
When the Sattari Patrakar Sangh took up the issue and after the plight of the three students was highlighted in The Goan, Health Minister responded quickly by gifting new mobile phones to the three students.
