MALKANGIRI (ODISHA): In a shocking incident, a Class-X student delivered a baby on the hostel rooftop of a ST & SC Development department-run residential girls’ high school in Chitrakonda, some 30 km from the district headquarters town of Malkangiri, on Monday evening.
How the 15-year-old girl’s pregnancy went unnoticed for eight months has left many perplexed.
Stung by the grave lapses in surveillance and monitoring, the district administration on Tuesday disengaged the hostel matron while the ANM was placed under suspension. It also recommended suspension of the school headmaster.
The incident came to light after the minor girl, who had returned to her hostel at about 3 pm after appearing for her English paper in the HSC Examination, was found absent during the evening prayer.
School headmaster Ajit Kumar Madkami told this paper that he asked the matron and others to search for the inmate but in vain. After Chitrakonda police was informed, the school staff and police jointly scanned the campus and found the minor had delivered a baby girl near the tank on the rooftop of the hostel.
The headmaster said the ANM and hostel matron were to be blamed for the lapses.
District welfare officer A Srinivas Achary said the 15-year-old girl had developed a relationship with a 20-year-old youth from her village Disariguda in Chitrakonda block when she had come home during the vacations last year. Police detained the youth who confessed to having a physical relationship with the minor girl.
Preliminary investigation revealed the girl skipped the evening prayer roll call after she developed labour pain and later gave birth to the baby. She was eight months pregnant, Achary said, adding, she had received sanitary napkins for the month. The girl has been admitted to the district headquarters hospital in Malkangiri.
Chitrakonda IIC Mukund Melka said a complaint was lodged with police by the girl’s father and investigation is underway.
“The 20-year-old youth has been detained. He will be arrested after legal formalities of the girl are completed,” he added. The girl’s father, in his complaint, blamed the school authorities for the incident, Melka said.
The incident has exposed gaping holes in existing supervision and support systems in schools to safeguard well-being of the students.
Meanwhile, the district administration disengaged matron Suchitra Charchi, suspended ANM Kabita Kumari Patra and recommended suspension of headmaster Madkami as part of disciplinary action for the lapses.