Raped, pregnant, now her village wants feast

Three weeks after the headmaster of a school in Odisha’s Koraput district was arrested on charges of impregnating a minor tribal girl, the survivor’s family is now facing social boycott.

Early this month, the headmaster of the school was arrested over impregnating a girl studying in class 9. The father of the girl had lodged an FIR accusing the headmaster of forcing the girl to have physical relationship with him. Doctors have ruled out abortion as the girl is five months pregnant. While the survivor’s family is worried about her health, their miseries have been compounded by the social boycott of the villagers who are demanding a community feast for pregnancy of their daughter before marriage.

“I am a daily labourer. The community feast would cost me at least ₹30,000. How can I arrange such a big amount. Besides, I need money for regular health check up for my daughter,” said the survivor’s father. He said the district administration is yet to provide him any assistance.

District welfare officer of Koraput Jagannath Soren said that a committee had inquired into the case. It found that apart from the headmaster, the matron of the hostel is also involved.

“We are concerned about the problems the family is facing. The district administration may give some assistance to her family,” he said.The DWO said the departmental probe committee found it as a case of “illicit relationship” on the part of the headmaster and not that of sexual assault.