The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has recommended that the Government of Odisha must pay Rs three lakhs as compensation for the death of a girl student within the school premises.
Seven-year-old Soni Pradhan, a student of UGME School in Puri district, lost her life after an almirah fell on her in theclassroom.
The NHRC also noted that the death was an accident and that all possible steps for providing medical treatment to the student had been taken. The NHRC also directed the District Education Officer, Puri, to enquire into the matter and fix the responsibility in the case of negligence.
The NHRC further noted that the accident had caused irreparable loss to her family for which the state had to bear the liability. Thus a compensatory sum of Rs three lakhs to the next of kin had been recommended and the NHRC directed the state's Chief Secretary to submit a compliance report, along with the proof of payment within six weeks.