Malkangiri: The Malkangiri district administration on Tuesday dismissed a woman employee of a state-run residential school for SC/ST students and suspended an Auxiliary Nurse Midwife (ANM) following an incident where a 16-year-old student delivered a baby in the school hostel.
The dismissed employee, lady Matron Suchitra Charchi, and the suspended ANM, Kabita Kumari Patra, faced action a day after the minor gave birth prematurely on Monday evening, just hours after writing her annual High School Certificate exam. Officials confirmed that the baby was born eight months prematurely.
Shockingly, the girl had attended classes and appeared for exams without the school authorities noticing her pregnancy.
Following an inquiry, the district welfare officer recommended the suspension of the school’s headmaster, Ajit Kumar Madkami, though no decision has been taken yet.
The girl’s father expressed his anguish, stating that he received a call on Monday afternoon asking him to come to the school.
School teachers, however, shifted the blame to the hostel warden for the oversight.
Meanwhile, police have detained a youth for questioning in connection with the pregnancy.
