District magistrate Sanjay Kumar Singh instructs the district programme officer on Muneshwar Manjhi’s case. Picture by Nagendra Kumar Singh

Patna, Sept. 8: A cancer-stricken former teacher who had been running from pillar to post for a year to get his retirement benefits got his dues within half-an-hour after he presented his case before the janata darbar of the district magistrate.

Around 12.30pm today, Muneshwar Manjhi, a sexagenarian from Punpun, took his application to district magistrate Sanjay Kumar Singh, who read it thoroughly. Singh immediately called district programme officer Keshav Prasad, who was present at the darbar, and said: “I don’t want to hear that the problem will be solved in days, tell me the number of hours. How much time will you take to solve the problem of this man? He is not getting retirement benefits even one year after his retirement. Call the official concerned and connect him to me, I will personally speak.”

The application was handed over to Prasad, who called up the official and asked him to speak to Singh.

All this while, Manjhi, who cannot speak as he survives on liquid diet which is fed through a pipe that runs around his neck, was quietly standing in front of the district magistrate. Singh asked him to take a seat and wait for while.

Within minutes, the phone rang and it was the treasury department official of Punpun on the other side. Singh answered the call and said: “A gentleman named Muneshwar Manjhi has come to my darbar and he is complaining about not getting his retirement benefit which he deserves. I don’t want to listen to any excuse, just release his dues within half-an-hour. Then call me on my number to inform me that the work has been done. I am there in the office and treat this call as urgent.”

Manjhi was a teacher in Vajitpur Primary School and taught students for 40 years until his retirement last year.

As he waited, programme officer Prasad began making calls and barked instructions to ensure that the district magistrate’s order was executed on time. He kept looking at his watch, realising that time was fast running out.

Suddenly the phone of the district magistrate rang and the official on the other side said: “Sir, I have done the work and the bill has been passed.”

The clock was just beginning to strike 1pm.

Manjhi, who was the only earning member in his family comprising his wife and three children, was not aware about the frenzy he had whipped up, as he was sitting in the waiting area.

Singh confirmed to The Telegraph that the issue had been settled. “I don’t know the exact amount, which is between Rs 4 lakh and Rs 5 lakh, but it has been transferred to Muneshwar Manjhi’s account just now. The bill has been passed by the treasury department. With this, he has got all his retirement dues,” the district magistrate said.

Manjhi was delighted — a smile lit up his face and his eyes welled up. Overcome with emotion, the elderly former teacher thanked Singh with folded hands.

Singh said he was happy. “When I saw the man, I realised he was in great need of money. I had to solve the problem as soon as possible. I am really happy that finally he has got his money which he deserved,” he told The Telegraph.

Officials in the district magistrate’s office said the main reason for the delay was the negligence of the treasury department officials who did not bother to take the case seriously despite Manjhi repeatedly visiting them regarding release of his dues. Singh has asked the official concerned to submit a report explaining the reason for the delay as soon as possible.