The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has deputed its Special Rapporteur Damodar Sarangi to investigate the plight of tribal children and their basic human rights like all-weather roads and adequate schools and language teachers in the remote villages of Dhenkanl district.
Admitting the petition of Supreme Court lawyer and rights activist Radhakanta Tripathy, the NHRC asked its Special Rapporteur to investigate the case and submit the report.
Earlier the commission sought an action-taken report (ATR) from the State administration on the petition that alleged the primary education in tribal villages of Dhenkanal faces challenges due to lack of language teachers, books, infrastructure and even lack of communication facilities for students.Complying with the direction of the School and Mass Education Department Joint Secretary submitted a report citing that 14 teachers for Juanga language against 20 sanctioned positions and 11 teachers for Munda language against the sanctioned 24 posts have been selected during the year 2013-14.
The report further stated that the rest of the posts have been fallen vacant due to non-availability of eligible candidates. Pursuant to the direction of the commission, Tripathy submitted that the State administration has failed to execute welfare schemes. The petitioner had alleged that primary education for the tribal children in Dhankanal faces challenges due to lack of language teachers, books, infrastructure and even lack of communication facilities for students to reach the schools. However, the Special Rapporteur is yet to visit the area.