At least 16 girl students of different Sevashram schools run by Odisha Government's Scheduled Tribe and Schedule Caste Development Department have been victims of rape during the last five years.
"The 16 girl students of different sevashram and ashram schools were victims of rape in the period of five years," Scheduled Tribe and Schedule Caste Development Minister Lal Behari Himirika informed the State Assembly while replying a written question.
While eight girls were allegedly raped by teachers of the schools concerned, eight others, though students of ashram schools, became pregnant due to relationship with persons close to their families.
Terming such incidents as "unfortunate," the minister said the state government has initiated certain measures to avoid such situation. "A lady teacher each will remain in charge of girl hostels. The hostels will also engage women as cooks," the minister said.
The district authorities have been provided with security guidelines, mess management guidelines and school and hostel monitoring guidelines in order to avoid any such incident, the minister said.
