Opposition raps government over student suicides

BERHAMPUR: Opposition political parties hit out at the government for three girls committing suicide in southern Odisha in the last one-and-half months after their parents failed to meet their education costs. "The series of suicides by tribal girls has exposed the poor delivery system of the government," the leaders said.
"The government's policies are only on pen and paper.It is clearly proved from the frustrations of these girls," said former Union minister Chandra Sekhar Sahu.
"Since the delivery mechanism has completely failed, government assistance did not reach students to help them continue their studies," alleged senior BJP leader and former deputy speaker of the assembly Ram Chandra Panda. He said these suicides should be inquired upon by the house committee.
"The condition of poor tribals is very critical. They are unable to afford the education of their children. We think the government is not functioning," alleged senior CPM leader Ali Kishor Patnaik.
Three girls allegedly committed suicide in Ganjam, Gajapati and Nabarangpur districts after failing to pay the education fee or buying study materials. The latest victim was Kanakadei Bhatra, 16, of Nabarangapur's Kutiguda village on August 14. Kanakdei, a class X student of Ghataguda UG High School, set herself ablaze on July 23 after her parents failed to pay an annual fee of Rs 148. She died of burns at SCB Medical College and Hospital, Cuttack.
On August 13, Sunita Raita, 21, a student from R Udayagiri in Gajapati district committed suicide by hanging herself in her house after the district administration could not provide the financial assistance through Integrated Tribal Development Agency (ITDA) to pursue her studies in nursing.
Similarly on June 25, a Class VII student Banita Nayak of Aska in Ganjam district died as she had allegedly set herself ablaze when her parents were reluctant to buy her books and pencil. The administration had not provided her the annual stipend for the last two years.
"In all three incidents, one thing is common. The administration failed to provide them financial assistance to pursue their study," said former state president of Bharatiya Janata Yuba Morcha Bibhuti Jena.