The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has directed the State Government to make adequate arrangements for cleaning the classrooms of schools and also asked not to deploy students for the purpose.
The rights panel also issued a show-cause notice to the Chief Secretary seeking a reply within six weeks as to why an amount of `10,000 be not recommended to be paid to the victim Kareena Begum, a Class-VII student of Government Upper Primary School, Sonepur who was locked inside her classroom while she was cleaning the room after the school was closed for the day.
Acting on a petition filed by rights campaigner Subash Mohapatra, the NHRC had earlier taken cognisance of the matter from the Subrnapur district administration and found it as “a clear case of violation of human rights”.
“During i0nquiry, it was found that the incidence had occurred due to lack of supervision of the headmistress of the school who was solely responsible to supervise and ensure safety and security of students. Thus, it is a clear case of violation of human rights of the victim Kareena Begum,” the rights panel observed.
The concerned headmistress Sangeeta Rath was placed under suspension on November 26, 2014 and departmental inquiry was initiated following the incidence.