The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) on Friday issued a notice to the Chief Secretary seeking an Action Taken Report (ATR) on the issue of pregnant students in ashram schools run by the State SC and ST Development Department.
Acting on a petition filed by Supreme Court lawyer and rights activist Radhakanta Tripathy, the apex rights panel sought a reply within six weeks.
Due to apathy, negligence and failure of the State Government, the abominable phenomena of students getting pregnant in their residential schools are witnessed in regular intervals. While some of the victims delivered babies, some others died after delivery, Tripathy alleged.
He contended that a Class VII girl student, who studied in an ashram school of Kandhamal, was found to be pregnant following which she was kept in a childcare institution of the district. On 05.10.2022, she went into labour pain and an ambulance was called as there was no emergency service at the childcare institution. The family of the deceased girl alleged that even though it was a highly sensitive case, the careless attitude of the treating doctors and the apathy of the administration led to her death.
Tripathy also mentioned that a similar incident happened with a 10th class girl student of Eklavya Model Residential School at Champanagar in Malkangiri. He requested for impartial investigation and legal action with compensation in all the incidents.
Tripathy cited the plight of the pregnant students, the lackadaisical attitude of the Government machinery in earlier incidents of at least six districts where he also filed petitions and suggested measures to be taken by the State Government to prevent such incidents. The State has already paid compensation and taken legal action in few case filed before the NHRC.