A social worker who had been on a hunger strike for the past four months to protest against alleged corruption in rural development projects has died in the district hospital, officials reported today. The 66-year-old, Devki Nand Sharma, had been fasting outside a temple near his residence since February 12, following his dissatisfaction with an inquiry report on corruption.

Sub-Divisional Magistrate of Mant, Adesh Kumar, detailed Sharma's grievances, stating that Sharma had lodged multiple complaints with the rural development department regarding corruption in the construction of toilets and MGNREGA (Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act) works in the district. Sharma, a member of the inquiry team investigating these complaints, disagreed with the findings and chose to protest by fasting.

Sharma's family notified officials about his deteriorating health, prompting his transfer first to a community health center and then to the district hospital, where he subsequently passed away. SDM Adesh Kumar had met Sharma on Monday to urge him to end his fast, explaining that higher authorities had been informed of the matter. However, Sharma insisted on a written assurance for a fresh probe, which Kumar stated was beyond his authority to provide.

Sharma's death highlights ongoing concerns about corruption in rural development projects and raises questions about the effectiveness of current oversight mechanisms. The incident underscores the need for transparent and accountable processes in addressing corruption allegations to prevent such tragedies in the future.