Bhubaneswar: Taking a serious note of a minor girl delivering a baby in a State-run tribal residential in Kandhamal district on Saturday, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) on Monday issued a notice to the Chief Secretary.
The commission called for a detailed report in the matter within four weeks regarding action taken against the guilty and relief/rehabilitation as well as counseling provided to the victim girl.
The apex human rights watchdog took suo motu cognizance of a media report that a 14-year-old girl, student of class eight, delivered a baby girl in a State-run tribal residential school in Kandhamal district on the January 12.
“The girl belongs to Scheduled Tribe, hence, the Commission would also like to know details of the sections under which FIR has been registered and status of statutory relief as per provisions of the SC/ST (PoA) Rules, 1995,” said NHRC in a statement.
“The commission has observed that the contents of the news report, if true, amount to gross violation of human rights of the minor girl who, apparently, became the victim of the apathy and gross negligence of the school administration,” it said.
Notably, the 14-year-old girl of the ‘Seva Ashram High School’ at Daringibadi in Kandhamal district run by the State Government delivered a baby on Saturday night.
The student and her newborn were admitted to a local hospital, and later shifted to MKCG Medical College and Hospital, Berhampur where the newborn died. The condition of the student is stated to be critical.
Meanwhile, at least nine school employees, including the headmistress have been axed.
“The state is responsible for the safety and security of the girl students, residing in the residential schools. It is apparent that the school head-mistress and hostel warden have failed to protect the poor girl while she was in their custody and due to their negligence she has suffered mental agony and social stigma,” the statement added.
