NHRC Asks for ATR on Death of Pregnant Dalit Student in Gajapati Dist

Bhubaneswar: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has asked the Collector and Superintendent of Police (SP) of the Gajapati district to furnish an Action Taken Report (ATR) regarding the death of a pregnant Dailt girl student on April 6.

The NHRC wants the ATR to be furnished within four weeks. A lawyer and rights activist Radhakanta Tripathy had filed a case before the NHRC regarding this pregnant Dalit girl’s death.

The deceased Dalit girl was studying in Class 8 of government-run Jhirjira Ashram residential school. She allegedly died of medical negligence on April 6, 2023 while undergoing treatment at the District Headquarter Hospital in Paralakhemundi.

At the time of her death she was four months pregnant. The school authorities did not inform the parents about her pregnancy, allge dthe petitioner.

The petitioner sought NHRC intervention for legal action against the wrong doers, compensation to the family of the deceased. He also demanded proper counseling, mental care, regular medical checkup and proper education in the State-run residential schools for scheduled caste and scheduled tribe children.

The NHRC also forwarded the copy of the petition to the Chief Secretary and the Director General of Police of Odisha for information and further action.