Child rights panel seeks report on teen’s death

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (OSCPCR) on Monday sought an action taken report from the state government on the death of a Class VII girl in Kandhamal district after delivering a stillborn.
More than 20 girls have faced sexual assault in residential schools during the past decade, official sources said.
According to reports, the Class VII student (13-year-old girl) of a government-run residential school in Kandhamal district was found pregnant two weeks ago. She gave birth to a baby boy on October 5, but the baby was stillborn. The minor girl also died on October 6 night while undergoing treatment.
Commission chairperson Sandhyabati Pradhan said Kandhamal district administration and ST & SC development department will submit a report on this matter. “In the past also, we had asked for action taken reports from the state government in minor girl sexual assault cases. We had also directed the state-run residential schools to strictly follow the guidelines for child protection,” she added. She said they had also instructed the authorities to conduct a health check-up of the girl students who go home during holidays and return to the hostel after the end of vacation. Through these check-ups it can be detected where she got pregnant (at home or at school). Matron and ANMs will closely monitor the students health, she added.
Pradhan said schools should not let go of the girl students with whoever comes to take her. They should follow proper guidelines and ensure their safe return home.