Daringbadi: The baby delivered by a 14-year old class VIII student here Sunday, breathed its last Monday morning at the MKCG Medical College and Hospital in Berhampur. Initially after giving birth, both the teenaged mom and the infant were admitted to the Baliguda sub-divisional hospital for observation. However, then both were transferred to the MKCG Medical College and Hospital.
Earlier Sunday, the headmistress of the school, Radharani Dalai was suspended. The district collector has already written to Odisha government recommending strict action against her. He has directed also the sub-collector to conduct a probe into the incident and submit a report within 10 days.
While three assistant superintendents were also suspended, one health worker (ANM) and two matrons were also sacked. The institution, Seva Ashram High School, here is run by the tribal and rural development department. District welfare officer (DWO) Charulata Mallick, said a third year student of Daringbadi College, who is a resident of Takalmaha village, has also been arrested in this connection.
With the government facing sharp criticism from the Opposition over the incident, SC and ST Development Minister Ramesh Majhi said the district collector had been asked to investigate the incident and submit a detailed report on the circumstances under which the girl got pregnant and delivered the child. “The government has taken a serious view of the incident,” he had stated Sunday. Stringent action would be taken against those responsible. The police are also investigating the matter, he had added.
A team of senior Congress officials headed by former MLA and state executive leader Ajayanti Pradhan visited here Sunday night and enquired about the incident. Other members in the team were president of Congress farmers’ wing, Amiya Pattnaik, MLA of G Udayagiri Jacob Pradhan and former MP Nakul Nayak and went to the girls’ hostel of the school.
“The incident is very shameful and unfortunate. The persons involved in the case should be arrested and stringent action should be taken against them as suspension is not a punishment in my opinion,” Jacob Pradhan said. Pradhan further demanded the resignation of the minister of the concerned department.
PNN