Baripada: In-charge Headmistress of the Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya (KGBV) at Dhanpur in Odisha’s Mayurbhanj district has been suspended for alleged dereliction of duty after a Class X student gave birth to a baby.
The action has been taken by the Block Education Officer (BEO), Betnoti against Namita Majhi, I/C Headmistress of the school.
According to the order issued by the BEO, it has been reported that Majhi has been found prima facie negligent in discharge of her duties resulting in serious dereliction of duty and hampering safety and security of young girl students.
In exercise of powers under Rule 12 of OCS (CCA) Rules 1962, she has been placed under suspension with immediate effect until further orders. During the period of suspension, her headquarters has been fixed at G.K. Govt UPS, Saria. She will be entitled to subsistence allowance of 50% of her pay and other admissible benefits as per norms.
As per the order, Subodh Chandra Singh, senior most Assistant Teacher of the school will remain in charge of school & MDM and Swagatika Rout, Assistant Teacher of the school will remain in charge of KGBV hostel and the SC/ST girls’ hostel till joining of regular headmaster.
The BEO has directed officials concerned to hand over and take over charges of school and hostel with immediate effect.
It may be noted that the Class X student, who was around seven months pregnant, reportedly gave birth to a baby boy at Pandit Raghunath Murmu (PRM) Medical College and Hospital in Baripada on Wednesday morning, raising serious concerns about the safety, welfare and monitoring of students in residential educational institutions.
According to sources, the student had been staying at the hostel of the government-run Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya in Dhanpur while pursuing her studies. On Tuesday, she suddenly fell ill and her condition worsened, prompting school authorities to take her to Betnoti hospital. During the preliminary medical examination there, doctors found she was pregnant and referred her to PRM Medical College and Hospital in Baripada for advanced care, where she delivered the baby the following morning.
The case has also prompted questions about how an advanced pregnancy went unnoticed in a residential school that is expected to provide regular health check-ups for students and where hostel matrons are said to collect menstrual hygiene pads from boarders every month.