Probe ordered into Odisha girl's suicide

Bhubaneswar, June 27 (IANS) The authorities Friday ordered a probe into the alleged suicide of a girl student in Odisha's Ganjam district after her parents denied her money to buy basic stationery.

District collector Prem Chandra Chaudhary said he has directed officials of all departments concerned to investigate the matter and submit their reports as early as possible.

"According to preliminary information I have received, the girl was provided with books and uniforms under the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA), a central government's flagship programme," he said.

"However, we have asked the police, education department officials and others concerned to investigate the matter separately and submit their reports for further action," he told IANS.

Jayanti, 14, committed suicide at her home in Aska town, about 170 km from here Wednesday after her parents said they didn't have enough money to buy her basic stationery like pencil and notebook, and other study materials.

She had been requesting her parents to pay some money for her studies after the school -- where she was recently promoted to class 7 -- opened June 23.

Her parents said they needed some time to arrange the money. Upset with the delay, the girl allegedly poured kerosene on herself and lighted a match, setting herself on fire at home when her parents were away.

She sustained over 50 percent burn injuries. Neighbours rescued the girl and took her to a hospital where she died, police said.

The girl's father Bijoy Nayak was a daily wage worker. He had recently suffered a paralytic stroke and is now unable to add to the family income.

Mother Iswari works as a maid. The couple has three other minor children.

The district collector said a financial assistance of Rs.8,000 has been provided to the family from the Red Cross fund as temporary relief.

The administration is also taking steps to cover the family under different welfare scheme, he said.