Kalaburgi, Karnataka (October 15):
A 40-year-old librarian, identified as Bhagyavathi, allegedly died by suicide at the Aarivu Kendra (Knowledge Centre) in Malakhed village, Sedam taluk, Kalaburgi district, after not receiving her salary for three months.

Police said Bhagyavathi had been facing financial distress as her family struggled to meet daily expenses and pay school fees for her two children. She lived in a rented house with her husband, a coconut trader.

Police confirm recovery of death note

Officials from the Malakhed police station confirmed that a death note was recovered from the site.

“She died by suicide inside the library in Malakhed Gram Panchayat. We found a death note and are verifying its contents. The husband mentioned she was depressed over salary delays,” said a police officer.

The police persuaded the family, which was initially hesitant, to file an official complaint.

Colleagues cite salary delays as reason for distress

Co-workers at the Aarivu Kendra claimed that salary payments had been delayed for several months due to administrative changes.

“After the new PDO took charge, there were login issues that disrupted payments. Most staff hadn’t received salaries for three months, but the issue was expected to be resolved soon. Unfortunately, she passed away before that,” one colleague said.

The Rural Development and Panchayat Raj (RDPR) Department reportedly manages the Aarivu Kendras, which are part of the state’s local-level literacy and information initiatives.

Inquiry underway into administrative lapses

The police have registered a case and initiated an investigation into the incident. Authorities are also looking into procedural lapses that may have caused salary delays.

The tragic death has sparked concern among employees of rural libraries and panchayat offices across the district, many of whom say payment delays are common and often overlooked.

Broader issue of salary disbursement delays

Salary delays in local government institutions are a recurring issue, especially in rural areas where digital approvals and administrative clearances often take longer. Employees have urged the state government to streamline the payment process and prevent such tragedies in future.

Conclusion

Police are awaiting forensic confirmation of the death note’s authenticity. Meanwhile, local officials have assured that pending payments will be cleared and mental health counselling provided to affected staff members.