Odisha Child Rights Commission Takes Swift Action After Tragic School Gate Collapse
Berhampur: In a decisive response to a heartbreaking incident, the Chairperson of the Odisha State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (OSCPCR), Babita Patro, has issued a stern directive to the Superintendent of Police (SP) of Gajapati district. She has demanded a comprehensive report within one week regarding the tragic deaths of two young girl students at a government-run primary school in Rubudisingh village, located in the Nuagada block. The fatal accident occurred on Wednesday when an iron grill and its supporting column collapsed as the children were climbing the school gate.
Immediate Administrative and Investigative Measures
Following the incident, the district administration acted promptly by suspending the in-charge headmaster, Seto Raika, citing negligence in duty. Babita Patro personally visited the school on Friday to conduct an on-spot inquiry, where she engaged with school authorities, police officials, and district administration representatives. During these discussions, she emphasized the critical need for precautionary steps to prevent such unfortunate events in the future.
"We have taken suo-motu cognizance of the incident and visited to conduct an on-spot inquiry," stated Patro. "Safety of the children is of utmost priority for us, and any negligence on it would not be tolerated." She revealed that initial investigations indicated one of the columns had been damaged by a contractor currently constructing an additional classroom at the school. Consequently, she has instructed the administration to take strict action against the contractor, and the District Education Officer (DEO) confirmed that an FIR has been lodged in this regard.
Broader Safety Initiatives and Community Outreach
In addition to the immediate response, Patro has directed the District Education Officer of Gajapati to conduct a thorough survey to identify unsafe and dilapidated structures across all school premises in the district. A detailed report from this assessment must be submitted to the commission to ensure systemic improvements in infrastructure safety.
The commission also extended its support to the grieving families by visiting the homes of the deceased girls, Beckyles Raita (10) and Idanti Raita (9), who were students of Class V and IV, respectively. Patro consoled the family members and informed them about the ex-gratia compensation announced by Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, highlighting the government's commitment to providing relief in such tragic circumstances.
High-Level Meeting and Collaborative Efforts
A significant meeting was convened to address the incident, attended by key officials including Additional District Magistrate (ADM) Phalguni Majhi, Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) of R. Udayagiri Rakesh Kumar Sahoo, District Education Officer (DEO) Mayadhar Sahu, District Social Welfare Officer (DSWO) Minati Dei, Block Development Officer (BDO) of Nuagada Loknath Sabar, and District Child Protection Officer (DCPO) Arun Kumar Tripathy. This collaborative effort underscores the multi-agency approach being adopted to enhance child safety and prevent similar tragedies.
The incident has sparked urgent calls for reinforced safety protocols in educational institutions across Odisha, with the OSCPCR leading the charge to hold accountable those responsible and implement long-term preventive measures.
