The Odisha Dalit Adhikar Manch (ODM) and the Indigenous People’s Forum (IPF) on Wednesday jointly held a demonstration and submitted a memorandum to the Governor seeking his intervention for proper implementation and management of stipend provision meant for SC and ST students in the State.
“Due to the tardy implementation and management of stipend fund meant for SC and ST students three tribal and Dalit students have committed suicide in the State recently. Neither the State Government has taken any action against the concerned authorities responsible for releasing stipend nor asked for a detail inquiry into the three incidents,” alleged ODAM coordinator Prasant Mallick. He said on June 26, one Banita Nayak (13) a Class VII of Aska Government Girls’ High School in Ganjam district, set herself on fire after her poor parents had failed to arrange money for her notebooks and other stationary.
On August 14, 15-year-old Kanakdei Batra, belonging to a tribal community in Nabarangpur district and a student of Class X succumbed to her burn injuries at SCB Medical College and Hospital, Cuttack after she set herself on fire on July 24 after her parents, both daily wage labourers, had failed to arrange Rs 200 for her school and examination fees. On August 13 too, Sunita Raita, who failed to pursue her ambition of completing the BSc Nursing course, committed suicide after being failed to get her stipend for month.
Hitting out at the Government for its poor delivery system resulting in the suicide of three girls in the last two months after their parents failed to meet their education costs, IPF convenor Thiophil Gamango alleged that the Government’s policies are only on pen and paper and it is clearly proved from the frustrations of these girls. We urged the Governor to take up the issue seriously with the Government, said Gamango.