An 11-year-old girl of Kendrapada district walked 10 km to meet Collector Samarth Verma on Monday to lodge grievances against her father.
Sushree Sangeeta Sethi, a student of the Dumuka Vidyapeeth in Marshaghai block, accused her father of taking away her stipend and midday meal (MDM) money.
After her mother’s death two years back, Sushree Sangeeta’s father Ramesh Chandra Sethi remarried. Her father and stepmother allegedly refused to take care of her, following which the girl stayed at her uncle’s house.
When her father refused to give her stipend and the amount provided by the Government towards MDM, she decided to approach the Collector for his intervention. Though she is having a bank account, the stipend and MDM money are being credited to her father’s account. The Collector directed the District Education Officer (DEO) to credit the MDM amount to the girl’s bank account immediately.
The DEO was also asked to take steps to recover the MDM money from the girl’s father. The Collector ordered an inquiry into the whole matter.Besides, the school headmaster was asked to provide MDM rice to the girl.
Notably, in view of the closure of schools amid the Covid-19 pandemic, the Government is providing 150 grams of rice and Rs 8.10 per day towards MDM to each student.