The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has issued notices to the Secretary, Scheduled Tribe (ST) and Scheduled Caste (SC) department, and Mayurbhanj Collector on the denial of basic facilities to inmates of two government-run ST and SC residential schools.
The Commission acting on a petition filed by rights activist and Supreme Court lawyer Radhakanta Tripathy passed the order and directed its Registry to transmit the copy of the complaint to the concerned authority calling for an action taken report within four weeks.
At least 94 SC/ST students of Kasturba Residential SC/ST School and Kesadiha Ashram under Block-Thakurmunda, District-Mayurbhanj, Odisha were deprived of basic amenities despite the allocation of crores of rupees every year to such schools/ashrams.
Lack of food, hygiene, sanitary pads, clean toilets, dining space, and proper education with inadequate teaching staff are common problems being faced by the students, the petition alleged.
“The students’ complaints to the District Collector, Mayurbhanj are of no avail. It is averred that denial of basic amenities to the students in these schools and inaction on part of District Administration amounts to serious violation of human rights of the students/ victims.”, it stated.
As many as 1,670 schools and 4,700 hostels are being run by the scheduled tribes and scheduled caste development department in the State. While 4.5 lakh children from ST and SC communities are enrolled in these schools, 60% of them are girls staying in school hostels.