Odisha: Congress To Launch Women's Grievance Cell, Mobile App After FM College Student Tragedy

Bhubaneswar: In the wake of the tragic self-immolation of a 20-year-old female student from Fakir Mohan (Autonomous) College in Balasore, the Odisha Congress on Saturday announced a slew of initiatives to support women in distress, including the formation of a dedicated women’s grievance cell and the launch of a mobile application for real-time assistance.

The decision was taken at the Political Affairs Committee (PAC) meeting of the party held on Friday. The committee expressed deep anguish over the student's death and observed that her life could have been saved had her desperate appeals for help on social media been acted upon.

On July 1—11 days before she set herself ablaze—the young woman had posted on X, tagging the Chief Minister's Office, department of higher education, National Commission for Women, and Union ministers. Her haunting message read: “They won’t let me live in peace.”

Despite reaching out to the local MLA, MP, college authorities, and police regarding her alleged sexual harassment, she received no support, the PAC resolution stated. Her friends also alleged that even classmates from her integrated BEd department failed to support her.

“The student died not just from her burns, but from the silence and indifference around her. To prevent such tragedies in the future, the OPCC will open a 24x7 women’s cell and roll out a dedicated app to respond swiftly to distress calls,” said Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) president Bhakta Charan Das.

Das also thanked the people of Odisha for their overwhelming response to the statewide bandh on July 17 and announced that the INDIA bloc—including Congress, CPI, CPI (M), CPI (ML) Liberation, RJD, SP, NCP, and Forward Bloc—will jointly observe Shraddhanjali Divas across the state on July 24, the 11th day of the student's death rituals.

The student, who sustained 95 per cent burns in the self-immolation attempt on July 12, succumbed to her injuries on July 14.

As part of the observance, Mahila Congress and women’s wings of allied parties will organise silent prayer meetings in universities and colleges. A two-minute silence will be observed to mourn all women across Odisha who have recently died due to murder or suicide, Das said.

Additionally, the Congress plans to stage mega rallies in six major cities to highlight rising crimes against women, the recent floods, and issues of social injustice. The party reiterated its demand for a judicial probe into the Balasore incident.