Class 10 girl ‘giving birth at Chitrakonda hostel’ sparks political debate in Odisha

After reports that a Class 10 student gave birth at a hostel in Chitrakonda block of Malkangiri district, the matter has become a point of contention. Deputy Leader of Opposition Prasanna Acharya criticised the State government on Wednesday.

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The senior Biju Janata Dal (BJD) leader claimed the event exposes the flaws in the current social systems. He questioned the safety of tribal girl students living in hostels. Acharya urged for a thorough investigation that extends beyond punishing a handful of individuals involved.

In a rebuttal to Acharya’s claims, Aska BJP MLA Saroj Kumar Padhi stated that unlike the now Opposition Biju Janata Dal, the saffron party does not try to hide such incidents. Padhi underscored that the BJP is more concerned about the welfare of tribal communities and is addressing the Chitrakonda matter with utmost seriousness.

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“A Class 10 girl and not of age, who was staying in a hostel, has given birth to a child. She was residing in the hostel means she was under the custody of the facility authorities. In such circumstances, she was impregnated and had to carry her pregnancy for around ten months, which the hostel authorities could not know,” Prasanna Acharya said.

“This implies that we are (he meant the BJP) shedding crocodile tears for the tribal people. This is the lone instance which reveals the truth,” Acharya expressed.

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Reacting to this, Saroj Padhi stated, “BJP-led Mohan Majhi government is an action-minded government. The government is immediately taking action relating to any case, whatever is occurring in the State. Law is taking its course and, unlike BJD, the BJP has never tried to suppress a matter."

"Whatever is possible within the ambit of law is certainly being done by the government,” the Aska legislator added.