Students walk 15 kms to convey grievances before Mayurbhanj Collector

Mayurbhanj: Students of Kendua Nodal High School in Shyamakhunta block of the district today walked for 15 kilometres to meet Collector Vineet Bhardwaj and seek his intervention over the alleged torture by the headmistress of the school.

Along with a Panchayat Samiti Sabhya member Mali Moni Majhi, as many as 17 students from Class I to Class VII walked for around 15 kms and reached the Collectorate at around 8 am today.

The students reportedly alleged that they are being mentally and physically harassed by the headmistress of the school.

The Samiti Sabhya member, who accompanied the students said that the students are not being served adequate food and clothing in the school. Instead, quite often they were seen cleaning and sweeping the school premises, she said, while alleging that the students are tortured by the headmistress.

The Samiti Sabhya further claimed that despite repeated complaints with the panchayat samiti and other concerned authorities, nothing has been done to address the issue.

Later in the day after getting information, the headmistress Tarulata Haribakta Behera reached the Collector’s office and accused the Samiti Sabhya of influencing the students to come up with the allegations.

Mayurbhanj Additional District Magistrate Aboli Sunil Naravane and Baripada Sub Collector Dibyajyoti Parida came and held discussion with the students. Police personnel were also called upon to avoid any untoward incident inside the Collector’s office.

Meanwhile, Parida has assured an investigation to find out the exact fact behind the matter.