Odisha Students Walk 25km to File Complaint Against Headmaster Over Hunger, Abuse
Ministers listens to grievance, assures to take corrective measures
Bhubaneswar: Fourteen students from Badaraisingi Ashram Residential School in Odisha’s Rayagada district on Saturday walked nearly 25 kilometers on Saturday and reached the Collector’s office to lodge a complaint against their headmaster.
As per reports, the students scaled the boundary wall of their hostel at around 3 am in the morning and walked for 25km to reach the district headquarters.
They complained that the headmaster was not serving food as per the government prescribed quantity and they often remained hungry. The students also alleged that the headmaster also abuses them.
“We are not getting sufficient food at our hostel. They are giving us eggs on the days when chicken should be prepared,” said a student.
Another student said, “We jumped the boundary wall at 3:30am in the morning and walked to the Collector’s office to complain about our headmaster.
However, they could not meet the Collector as it was a holiday on Saturday and the Collector was not present at the office. Failing to find the Collector, the students moved to the circuit house where they met scheduled caste and scheduled tribe (SC & ST) development minister Jagannath Saraka.
“Children leaving the hostel and walking so far is not right. I asked him about their problems. They told me about the language problem they are facing in the school. The headmaster is not teaching them properly. They also told me about their food issues and alleged they are not getting enough food. I will inquire into the matter and take necessary corrective measures,” Saraka added.
While the headmaster could not be contacted for comments, Rayagada Additional District Welfare Officer (ADWO) Malay Ranjan Chinra said, “We received the news of children walking up to here. We will conduct a probe on how they managed to leave the hostel and walked so long and why the gatekeeper allowed them to go and what was the hostel Superintendent and Assistant Superintendent doing. We will take action if we find anybody neglecting their duties.”