Class X girl attempts suicide after she was scolded by teacher

A Class 10 student attempted suicide after she was allegedly misbehaved by a teacher. This incident took place at Deuli village under Patamundai in Kendrapara district on Tuesday.

According to a source, the girl took the extreme step after headmaster Basudev Swain misbehaved with her on Friday. She consumed poison after feeling really bad about it. She is now undergoing treatment at SCB Medical College and Hospital. 

Akuli Behera, grandfather of the student, said, “She had gone to school on Friday. Due to some reason, the head teacher made mockery of her, saying had you been married you would have been a mother of many kids. It hurt her very much. She was upset. She might have taken this drastic step for this reason.”

Dibakar Barik, a villager, said, “We got to know that the school headmaster misbehaved with her which forced her to consume poison. Now, she is being treated at SCB Medical College and Hospital.”

Headmaster Basudev Swain said “I have not misbehaved with her. Rather I tried to make her understand things. These allegations were untrue and vague. Other students were there. They can better clarify.”

This is not just one incident. Incidents of teachers’ misbehaviour are on the rise in the state.  

In July 2022, students of Bijay Nagar High School under Mahakalapada police limits in Kendrapara district had staged a dharna protesting alleged misbehaviour of a Class 10 girl student by a science teacher. 

Parents of the students also joined the protest seeking arrest of the teacher and stringent action against him for his misconduct. 

The agitators locked the school gate and staged protests in front of the school. Tension ran high when police did not take action against the accused teacher even after complaint by students.

Earlier in April 2022, a Class 10 girl student committed suicide by jumping from the terrace of the hostel of a school in Sundergarh district after failing to bear the alleged sexual harassment by the headmaster.

As per reports, the student jumped off the terrace of the two-storied hostel of Panchayat Samiti High School at Lephripara. Though the school authorities rushed her to the Sundergarh District Headquarters Hospital (DHH), doctors declared her dead before arrival.