Issues notice to state seeking detailed report on 740 deaths in 10 years.
Issues notice to state seeking detailed report on 740 deaths in 10 years.
Taking suo motu cognizance of a media report that in Maharashtra 740 students of residential schools in tribal areas have died in the last 10 years, the National Human Rights Commission has asked the government to respond on the matter.
“The schools lack health services and basic amenities. Reportedly, the figures are based on an internal report of the state tribal development department. As per the norms, the students should be screened at least twice a year but government agencies were not following it,” a statement by the commission said.
The commission has observed that the contents of the news report are shocking and painful. “The students coming from the tribal communities generally belong to poor families. The school authorities, as their lawful guardians, are responsible for their welfare, safety and health care needs. The negligence on the part of the department of tribal development and the school authorities is a violation of right to life, dignity and equality of the students. Accordingly, a notice has been issued to the government of Maharashtra to its chief secretary calling for a detailed report in the matter within four weeks,” the commission stated.
According to the media report, there are 552 residential schools for tribal students in the state run by the tribal development department. A number of posts are lying vacant. The budgetary provisions are not being utilised in a proper manner. The issue of the deaths of students in residential schools of tribal areas came to light when a 12-year-old girl from a residential school in Palghar district died on October 7, 2016. Most of the students died of dengue, malaria, food poisoning, suicide, drowning and even snake bite, the commission added.
However, the state government has yet not received the notice. “We have not received the notice yet. I came to know about the notice through the media. We will write to the commission in detail once we receive the notice,” chief secretary Swadheen Kshatriya said.
