A Class X tribal girl student of the Ghataguda Upgraded High School under Papadahandi block in Nabarangpur district tried to commit suicide by self-immolation on Thursday as her parents failed to pay her school fee of Rs160.
Kanakdei, daughter of Keshab Bhatra of Khutiguda village, first asked her father to give the money to be paid in the school next day. As the poor father could not meet the requirement, she requested her mother Budhabari for the money. As her mother also did not have money at the moment, she promised to give it later.
An argument took place between Kanakdei and her mother, following which the latter asked the girl to go to farmland to work instead of going to school.Kanakdei set herself on fire by sprinkling kerosene all over her body. Her mother and neighbours heard her scream and rescued her in a critical condition.She was rushed to the District Headquarters Hospital (DHH), where doctors found her with 80 per cent burn injuries. CDMO Dr Niranjan Nayak referred the girl to the MKCG Medical College Hospital in Brahmapur.
Hearing the incident, Sub-Collector Parikhit Seth rushed to the DHH and granted Rs10,000 from the Red Cross Fund and arranged an ambulance to shift the girl to Brahmapur. He further assured of bearing the entire medical expenses for her.Maa Ghara Foundation president Kadambini Tripathi, former Zilla Parishad Vice-President Manjula Majhi and Muna Tripathy visited the victim’s house and contributed rice along with cash to the family.