Power dept provides solace to deceased line helper’s family

SANGUEM: Taking cognisance of a Herald report on the plight of the Velip family following the death of its lone bread winner Devidas Dattaram Velip, the Electricity Department, Sanguem finally, on Thursday, granted a financial aid of Rs 7 lakh to the family of the deceased.

It may be recalled that Devidas, a line helper attached to Electricity Department, Sanguem, died due to electrocution while restoring the electricity supply on the 11 kv power line at Maida on April 25 evening, leaving his wife Diksha and their three minor children to fight for survival.

The financial aid provided by the Electricity Department comes as a big relief to the deceased’s family.

The aid was transferred to the savings bank account of Diksha through RTGS, informed Assistant Engineer attached to the Electricity Department, Sanguem.

The Assistant Engineer informed that the department has also forwarded the relevant papers of Diksha to provide her with a job in the electricity department on compassionate grounds. 

Meanwhile, at a press conference at Sanguem, the women’s wing of GPCC led by Pratima Coutinho, South Goa district president Savitri Kavalekar and others demanded a detailed probe into the death of Devidas. 

Coutinho urged the Electricity Department to inquire with his colleagues as to who directed Devidas to 

climb the electricity pole in the absence of a linesman. 

Coutinho and Kavalekar later visited the bereaved family members at their residence in Netravali.

Kavalekar appealed to the local MLA to direct the Electricity Department to conduct a thorough probe into the matter instead of making statements.

The members of Gomantak Bhandari Samaj presented a memorandum to the Electricity Department demanding immediate financial relief and job on compassionate grounds to Diksha.

Replying to the memorandum presented by the Samaj, the Electricity Department officials assured all possible help to the deceased’s family members. The officials informed that the department has already created a post for Velip’s wife.

Samaj member Jeetendra Naik informed that it would however be convenient to Diksha Velip to work at the department sub centre at Netravali instead of giving her employment in Sanguem or Curchorem.