As per the provisions of the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA), no fees should be collected from the SC, ST and BPl category students between 6 and 14 years of age. However, the recent back-to-back suicide attempts made by schoolgirls in the State, allegedly due to their inability to pay school fees and purchase stationeries, are now a great cause of concern.
The Odisha High Court too has expressed its concern over this shocking trend and has issued a notice to the State Government.
After taking cognisance of the suicide of 13-year-old Ganjam girl for being unable to purchase pencil and notebook last week, the High Court on Monday also issued a notice to the Government over the suicide bid of the Nabarangpur schoolgirl, who is now undergoing treatment here sustaining over 90 per cent burn injuries.
Both the matters have come under the scrutiny of the High Court after social activist and advocate Prabir Kumar Das approached the court in two separate PIls. In both the petitions, Das has urged the court to direct the Government not to collect any fees from the SC and ST and BPl students up to the age of 14 years as per the SSA provisions.
Acting upon the PIl pertaining to the Nabarangpur girl, a Division Bench of Acting Chief Justice Pradip K Mohanty and Justice Biswajit Mohanty directed the Government counsel to inform the court by Wednesday about the nature of treatment and benefits being provided to the tribal girl Kanakdei Bhatra.
Kanakdei, studying in Class X, made a self-immolation bid on July 24 when her parents failed to arrange Rs200 for her school and examination fees. Sustaining over 90-per cent burn injuries, she is currently undergoing treatment here for over a week now. The SSA scheme has provisions under which under-previlidged children get free education and other learning material.