Bhopal/Balaghat, Jan 31 (NationPress) A 13-year-old girl living at the Kasturba Gandhi Balika Hostel in Parsamau village, within the Baihar development block of Balaghat district, Madhya Pradesh, gave birth to a baby girl this week at the maternity ward of the district hospital.

This situation has sparked serious concerns surrounding oversights in safety, health monitoring, and supervision in residential hostels that are designed to assist girls from rural and tribal communities.

The Class 8 student was taken to Garhi hospital after her health deteriorated. Medical assessments confirmed an advanced pregnancy, which led to the delivery of her baby girl. Hospital officials informed the police, prompting immediate action from the women's police station.

The investigation was later transferred to the Garhi police station, as it falls under its jurisdiction. Kiran Varkade, in charge of the women's police station, confirmed to IANS that legal actions commenced swiftly after receiving the hospital report.

A suspect, initially a minor during the incident and now aged 18, has been detained and is set to appear before the Juvenile Justice Board on Saturday.

The victim has identified the accused as another resident from her village. Authorities are carefully reconstructing the timeline of events while ensuring compliance with legal protections for minors.

The concealed pregnancy raises significant questions. Reports indicate that the girl's mother “failed to observe any changes,” and the hostel warden informed police that the girl had returned home during the April break, where the incident is believed to have taken place.

The warden noted that there were no suspicions despite visible signs, as per the investigation officer. In response, Shakuntala Damor, Assistant Commissioner of the Tribal Affairs Department, has issued an immediate suspension order for hostel superintendent Chainbati Saiyam, citing severe negligence.

The order highlights that at first glance, it appears that the hostel warden, Chainbati Saiyam, showed “no concern” when the student's health worsened, nor did she “arrange for a separate medical examination” of the student. Moreover, despite the student's continuous absences, “no communication was made with the parents regarding her absence or health.”

This indicates that Mrs. Chainbati Saiyam, who also serves as a primary teacher at the Government Primary School in Khajra, did not fulfill her responsibilities as the hostel warden and “acted arbitrarily and with gross negligence in her official duties.”

Investigations have confirmed that clear signs of the girl's declining health were ignored. No dedicated medical evaluation was conducted, and the parents were not informed about her ongoing illness or repeated absences.

The District Project Coordinator GP Barman of the Education Centre, tasked with overseeing these hostels in the tribal area, was unavailable for comments concerning additional accountability for the negligence. Police are conducting a thorough investigation.