Odisha Human Rights Commission (OHRC) today asked the state government to probe the alleged lack of required infrastructure facilities at a residential school for tribals and dalits and submit the report within four weeks.
A local daily had earlier reported that students of Badani Sebashram School under Jharigaon block in Nabarangpur district have no option but to sit on the ground with their food plates under umbrellas during rains due to shortage of classrooms.
The matter was taken up by OHRC working president B H Mishra.
OHRC in its order said a copy of the relevant news item should be sent to the commissioner-cum-secretary, the government, ST and SC development department and Nabarangpur collector for the inquiry.
The respective reports about the action taken to redress the problems of the school students were asked to be submitted to the Commission within four weeks, it said.
According to OHRC, the news report also said that some students were found to be suffering from malaria and other types of ailments. Also the condition of toilets and the non-availability of drinking of water inside the school campus were among other problems faced by them.
"Since the students are continuing their studies in an unhygienic and insanitary condition, it raises a serious question of violation of their human rights," the rights panel said and demanded probe.
The commission posted the next hearing of the case to September 2, 2016.
