BHUBANESWAR: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has directed Chief Secretary JK Mohapatra to institute a mechanism for comprehensive monitoring of health, including reproductive health, of girls residing in Government-run hostels while ensuring their overall security.
The Commission has taken a serious note of a complaint regarding a 14-year-old girl giving birth inside the Bhogpara Primary Sevashram hostel in Kutra block of Sundargarh district on August 5 last year with authorities and Superintendent of the hostel having no knowledge of her pregnancy.
Directing the Chief Secretary to submit his response within four weeks, the Commission also instructed the Secretary of ST and SC Department to submit the outcome of proceedings against Kutra Welfare Extension Officer within six weeks.
While Sundargarh Collector has been asked to submit details on the proceedings against the ashram authorities, the SP has been asked to apprise whether any official of the hostel was involved in the incident.
The complaint would be taken up for hearing during the Bhubaneswar sitting of the Commission next month.
A complaint in this regard was filed by executive director of Global Human Rights Communications Subash Mohapatra.