Phulbani: Amid rising incidents of sexual exploitation of women, two minor girls — both students of Class 10 and residents of state-run hostels in Odisha’s Kandhamal district — were found to be pregnant during routine health checkups, officials said.
The cases were reported from two separate government residential girls’ high schools in Tumudibandh block of the district. Both girls had returned to their hostels after the summer vacation last month.
After the pregnancy of the minor girls came to light, Kandhamal district administration on Friday lodged a police complaint. The police have been informed about pregnancy of two girls with a request to investigate into the matter, District Welfare Officer Rabi Narayan Mishra said.
As per practice, girls in residential schools run by the state government undergo medical tests after they return from long vacation.
During the process, the health team found two girls showing unusual symptom. Subsequently, they were sent to sub-divisional hospital where their pregnancy was confirmed, he said.
As per data with the ST & SC Development, Minorities and Backward Classes Welfare Department, 22 tribal girl students were subjected to sexual assault, with 34 individuals accused of these crimes— within just 188 residential schools meant exclusively for tribal girls. Disturbingly, 12 of the victims were found to have given birth between 2018 and 2023.
These 188 schools collectively enroll 62,385 girls. Overall, the department runs 1,737 residential schools across the State, educating a total of 4,26,903 students, the vast majority of whom belong to tribal communities.