Odisha Shocker: Class 10 Student Gives Birth in School Hostel, Headmaster and Staff Suspended

Malkangiri:  A Class 10 student gave birth to a premature baby in the hostel of a state-run residential school in Odisha 's Malkangiri district. Following the event, the school authorities suspended the headmaster on Tuesday, along with other staff members, according to officials. 

A day after the incident, the district administration of Malkangiri conducted an inquiry and promptly removed hostel matron Suchitra Charchi from her duties. Additionally, an auxiliary nurse and midwife were placed under suspension. The student, who had returned to the hostel after appearing for her board examination, gave birth to a baby girl on Monday, officials confirmed. 

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The headmaster of the school, run by the ST & SC Development, Minorities & Backward Class Welfare Department, expressed confusion over the incident, stating, "Men are not allowed in the girls' hostel, and we are unaware of how she became pregnant." He also pointed out that health workers are responsible for conducting weekly check-ups for all students living in the hostel, adding, "This incident highlights that the health worker failed to carry out her duties properly." 

The girl and her baby were first taken to the sub-divisional hospital in Chitrakonda before being transferred to the Malkangiri district headquarters hospital. Hospital sources reported that the baby was born prematurely, at only eight months into the pregnancy. 

Case Filed Under POCSO Act and BNS: 

Sub-divisional Police Officer of Chitrakonda, Pradosh Pradhan, confirmed that a case has been filed under multiple sections of the POCSO Act and BNS. 

Following an outrage over the incident, the district administration promptly dismissed lady matron Suchitra Charchi and suspended headmaster Ajit Kumar Madkami and Auxiliary Nurse Midwife (ANM) Kabita Kumari, an official confirmed. 

 The girl's parents have raised questions with the school authorities about how her pregnancy remained undetected until she went into labour. 

District Welfare Officer Srinivas Acharya suggested that the girl may have conceived during a vacation at home. He confirmed that a departmental inquiry has already begun, and that a man suspected of impregnating the student had been questioned by the police. 

(With PTI Inputs) 

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