Post News Network
Cuttack, Jan 5: Acting on a petition accusing the state government of not providing adequate healthcare facilities to students residing at the residential schools run by Scheduled Caste (SC) and Scheduled Tribe (ST) department, National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) issued a notice to the government.
NHRC member SC Sinha had earlier come down heavily on the government for the same at camp court held in Bhubaneswar recently. However, it did not prompt the government to boost healthcare facilities at residential schools. Accusing the government of not adhering to the panel’s order, rights activist Akhand drew the attention of NHRC again.
Concerned over the state government’s apathy, NHRC has sought an action-taken report within four weeks.
According petition filed by Akhanda, he visited a few residential schools in Rayagada district November 20. To his dismay, he found teachers of Bankili High School under Kolnara block engaging students in work. Seeing him approaching towards the school, teachers sent the students to classrooms.
Students were being served meal in unhygienic conditions and seven students were found asleep during school hours.
During interaction, he came to know that the students remained absent due to illness. The ailing students said neither they were provided medicines nor were they taken to hospital. What the school authorities usually do that they buy medicines from drugstores instead of taking students to doctors.
When asked, the school headmaster said the government had not made any provision to bear medical expenses of students if they fall ill. It is impossible to provide healthcare facilities to 600 boys and 110 girls residing in the school.
Akhanda went to Rabadi Girls’ High School. The school headmaster, however, did not allow him to interact with the students and take stock of the situation.