Two Customary X women discovered to be pregnant in Odisha’s Kandhamal 

 Kandhamal district administration in Odisha on Friday (July 25, 2025) filed a police criticism after two women finding out in Customary X had been discovered to have examined constructive for being pregnant.

“We now have knowledgeable police about being pregnant of two women. Within the criticism we have now requested police to research into the matter,” mentioned Rabi Narayan Mishra, District Welfare Officer of Kandhamal.

As per follow, grown up women in residential faculties run by the State authorities endure medical exams quickly after they return from lengthy trip.

“Our staff discovered two women having uncommon symptom. Subsequently, they had been despatched to sub-divisional hospital the place their being pregnant was confirmed,” mentioned Mr. Mishra.

This 12 months the faculties reopened on June 21 after summer season trip. Nonetheless, the 2 women returned to highschool within the first week of July.

The ST & SC Improvement, Minorities and Backward Courses Welfare Division has acknowledged that 22 tribal lady college students had been subjected to sexual assault, with 34 people accused of those crimes— inside simply 188 residential faculties meant solely for tribal women. Disturbingly, 12 of the victims had been discovered to have given beginning between 2018 and 2023.

These 188 faculties collectively enroll 62,385 women. General, the division runs 1,737 residential faculties throughout the State, educating a complete of 4,26,903 college students, the overwhelming majority of whom belong to tribal communities.

In 2018, the government-run Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe Analysis and Coaching Institute (SCSTRTI) carried out a examine titled ‘Influence of Preventive Intervention on Incidences of Sexual Abuse in Residential Faculties of Odisha.’ The examine reviewed a number of incidents of sexual violence reported from residential faculties and located that, generally, the allegations had been substantiated.

Particularly, researchers analyzed 29 instances of sexual abuse reported between 2011 and 2016 throughout 5 districts— Koraput, Balasore, Nayagarh, Mayurbhanj, and Sundargarh. Alarmingly, 13 headmasters and 4 lecturers had been recognized because the accused in these instances.

After it was discovered that some educating and non-teaching workers had been concerned within the abuse, the federal government launched tips to intently monitor the well being of lady college students. Put up-vacation well being check-ups had been mandated to find out whether or not any pregnancies had occurred throughout their keep at dwelling, slightly than within the residential faculties.