Minor Delivering Baby: NHRC Seeks Report From Odisha Govt

New Delhi: Taking suo motu cognisance of a minor tribal student delivering a baby at a residential school at Daringbadi in Kandhamal district, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) on Monday sought a detailed report, including action taken against the guilty, from the Odisha government within four weeks. It has also sought details about the relief/ rehabilitation as well as counseling provided to the girl.

The NHRC notice came on a day when there has been widespread condemnation from the opposition about safety and security of women and children in the State. The newborn died at MKCG Medical College and Hospital in Berhampur this morning.

In a statement, NHRC said that the contents of the news report, if true, amount to gross violation of human rights of the minor girl who, apparently, became the victim of the apathy and gross negligence of the school administration.

“The state is responsible for the safety and security of the girl students, residing in the residential schools. It is apparent that the school head-mistress and hostel warden have failed to protect the poor girl while she was in their custody and due to their negligence she has suffered mental agony and social stigma,” the human rights watchdog said in its notice.

Referring to media reports, NHRC said that it has also asked the State Chief Secretary the details of the sections under which FIR has been registered and status of statutory relief as per provisions of the SC/ST (PoA) Rules, 1995 as the girl belonged to the Scheduled Tribe.

It also drew attention to media reports stating that after the delivery, the girl along with her newborn was driven out of the hostel and she was forced to take shelter in a nearby forest. The girl along with her newborn was traced with the help of local police on the 13th January, 2019, and admitted to a hospital.

The SC and ST Development Minister has reportedly stated that the District Collector has been directed to probe the incident and submit a detailed report regarding circumstances under which the girl got pregnant and delivered a baby. The locals also staged a demonstration and blocked the National Highway 59, demanding immediate arrest of the culprits and strict action against school head-mistress and the hostel warden, NHRC said.

The Class VIII student gave birth to the baby girl inside the hostel bathroom of a sevashram residential high school at Daringbadi in Kandhamal district on Sunday morning.

Tension has run high in the area ever since news broke about the minor delivering the girl.

On the other hand, a team of the Odisha Pradesh Mahila Congress led by its president Sumitra Jena accompanied by the office-bearers of the Ganjam District met the minor girl at the Labour room of the gynaecology ward today.

Talking to the mediapersons later, the Mahila Congress president said the condition of the minor girl is critical.

“We found the girl in a state of fear and shock. As the girl got terrified after seeing the lady police staff, I asked them to leave the labour room. After they left the room, the girl told that she was raped some months ago. Later, she used to remain in the hostel. But after she gave birth to a baby girl on Saturday night inside the toilet of the hostel, the hostel staff left her and her baby inside a forest near the hostel. Some people found the girl in the early hours of Sunday and admitted her to the Community Health Centre at Baliguda,” Jena added.