Phulbani: Another shocking case of teenage pregnancy has emerged from a government-run residential school in Odisha’s Kandhamal district, where a Class IX student gave birth to a baby boy recently.
The 14-year-old, a resident of the girls’ hostel at a school managed by the ST and SC Development Department in Phiringia block, reportedly became pregnant after returning home during school holidays last year.
According to the complaint filed by her family at Gochhapada police station, a youth from Pindangi village allegedly entered into a physical relationship with her under the false promise of marriage. School authorities only discovered her advanced pregnancy, around eight months, last month. Following which, the headmaster informed the girl’s family and sent her home. She delivered the baby on March 1 at her home. The matter came to light after the family lodged a complaint last week.
Gochhapada police have registered a case under relevant sections and efforts are on to apprehend the accused. The school’s headmaster has also filed a separate complaint at Phiringia police station regarding the incident.
Block Education Officer Alok Pradhan stated that the district administration has launched an inquiry into the circumstances, including potential lapses at the hostel.
Meanwhile, the incident has raised questions on supervision, regular health check-ups, and overall monitoring in such government residential facilities for vulnerable students. Both the young mother and her newborn are reportedly in poor health, as the family has hesitated to seek medical attention due to concerns over social stigma, police sources said.
