Minor Girl Death: Parents Stage Dharna For Compensation In Odisha’s Kandhamal

Phulbani: A day after a minor girl and her newborn baby died, her family staged a dharna in front of the local police station in Odisha’s Kandhamal district on Saturday.

The girl, a student of Class VII of residential Rangaparu Government Girls’ School under Belaghar police limits, was found pregnant last month and accommodated at Subhadra Seva Sadan in G Udaygiri following check-up at MKCG Medical College and Hospital at Berhampur.

She developed labor pain on Thursday and was rushed to community health centre where she gave birth to a baby boy. While the newborn died soon after, she succumbed while undergoing treatment on Friday.

The girl’s family members along with villagers staged a dharna in front of Belaghar police station on Saturday alleging that negligence of district administration and doctors of the CHC led to her death. Shouting slogans against the authorities, they demanded compensation for their loss.

As palpable tension prevailed at the police station, additional tehsildar of Tumudibandha went to the spot and attempted to pacify the agitated family members of the girl. The additional tehsildar provided Rs 50,000 as compensation on behalf of the district administration to the family members and assured them of a matching amount later.

Meanwhile, District Welfare Officer (DWO) Seemanchal Behera informed that the hostel matron of the residential school, Ranjita Kanhar, has been suspended and headmaster, hostel superintendent and an ANM have been issued show-cause notice based on investigation by Baliguda sub-collector Subhankar Mohapatra.

Also Read: Minor Girl & Newborn Baby Die After Delivery In Odisha’s Kandhamal