Odisha: Class 10 Student delivers baby in school hostel, inquiry launched
The girl gave birth to a baby girl on Monday after returning to the hostel from her board examination, officials said. The school is managed by the scheduled caste and scheduled tribe (SC & ST) development, minorities, and backward class welfare department
Bhubaneswar: In a shocking incident, a Class 10 student delivered a baby at the hostel of a state-run residential school in Odisha's Malkangiri district, prompting authorities to launch an inquiry. The incident has raised serious concerns about the safety and welfare measures in place at government-run educational institutions.
The girl gave birth to a baby girl on Monday after returning to the hostel from her board examination, officials said. The school is managed by the scheduled caste and scheduled tribe (SC & ST) development, minorities, and backward class welfare department.
The headmaster of the school expressed shock, stating, “Men are strictly prohibited from entering the girls' hostel. We are unsure how this could have happened.” He also pointed out a serious lapse in health monitoring, adding, “Health workers are mandated to conduct weekly check-ups for all hostel residents. This incident reveals a failure in maintaining that protocol.”
Following the delivery, both the student and her newborn were immediately shifted to the sub-divisional hospital in Chitrakonda and later referred to the district headquarters hospital in Malkangiri. According to medical authorities, the condition of both mother and child is stable.
The girl's parents demanded an explanation from the school administration about how the pregnancy remained undetected until the girl went into labour.
District welfare officer Srinivas Acharya suggested that the pregnancy might have occurred during a vacation when the girl was at home. He stated, “A departmental inquiry is already underway.” Meanwhile, police have detained a man suspected of being involved in the case.
This incident has sparked widespread outrage and raised critical questions about the effectiveness of health checks and security measures at state-run hostels. Authorities are under pressure to ensure a thorough investigation and take necessary corrective measures.
“This unfortunate case underscores the need for enhanced vigilance and safeguarding mechanisms in educational institutions, especially those catering to vulnerable sections of society,” said Deba Prasad Dash, a development activist of Malkangiri.
