Kochi, Aug 4 (NationPress) A 47-year-old individual from Pathanamthitta district in Kerala tragically ended his life, reportedly following a prolonged financial crisis that hindered his ability to secure funds for his son’s engineering college admission, as stated by local authorities and family members on Monday.

The deceased, known as V.T. Shijo, resided in Ranni, located approximately 100 km southeast of Kochi, and was discovered hanging in the Moongampara forest area on Sunday evening, according to officials.

This heartbreaking incident is said to have unfolded after he was unable to gather the necessary funds for his son's engineering college admission in Tamil Nadu, where his son had successfully secured a spot.

Additionally, the non-payment of salary to Shijo's spouse, Lekha Raveendran, who has been a school teacher for over 12 years, is considered another contributing factor.

Victim's family members expressed that despite a Kerala High Court ruling mandating the education department to release Lekha's salary retroactively, alleged bureaucratic delays and inaction from the district education office resulted in the funds never reaching them.

Reportedly, the school management made attempts to contact the district education office to expedite the release of Lekha's salary, but their inquiries received no response.

"He was under tremendous stress as the family could not secure the funds required for his son’s college admission in Erode, Tamil Nadu," a relative disclosed to reporters on Monday.

This recent incident highlights a troubling trend of suicides in Kerala linked to financial distress. In recent years, the state has witnessed several similar tragedies, including those related to loan recovery and agricultural debt.

Last year, a family of four in Vakkam, Thiruvananthapuram, died by suicide, with police suspecting financial hardships and overwhelming debt as the underlying cause.

In a similar vein, a farmer in Alappuzha also took his own life, citing mounting debts and a lack of support for farmers. Observers note that such incidents underscore the ongoing economic challenges faced by numerous families in the state.

The situation of Shijo’s wife, a government-approved teacher who has not received payment for over a decade, raises serious questions regarding the efficiency and responsiveness of the public administration system.

Shijo's death has sparked calls for a prompt and comprehensive investigation into the administrative failures that exacerbated the family’s financial struggles.

The deceased was the son of Thyagarajan, a district committee member of the Karshaka Sangham, a farmers' organization.