Amravati : The death of an 11-year-old tribal girl, who studied at a govt-aided residential ashram school at remote village of Bhatkuli in Melghat has put the district administration and school management under the scanner, with questions being raised over medical protocol in handling exigencies and the poor condition of ashramshalas in the state. As outrage swept the district, the state tribal development department ordered an inquiry on Sunday.
The tribal department has given ex gratia compensation of Rs 1 lakh to the parents.
Dharni project officer Siddharth Shukla said, “Priya had a heart ailment since childhood. Once the problem was noticed again, she was treated at a private children’s hospital. However, she died during treatment. Shukla constituted a four-member committee comprising the Bhatkuli tehsildar, a health officer, an extension officer and a teacher. The committee has been asked to conduct a detailed inquiry into the sequence of events, from the onset of symptoms to the treatment given, and submit a report within seven days. Further action against the school administration will depend on the probe report. The death has again brought into focus the safety and health infrastructure at ashramshalas that house tribal students in remote areas.
After Priya, a resident of Ranigaon village in Dharni tehsil of Melghat, complained of severe pain on Thursday, she was taken to a hospital in Amravati, where a 2D echo test conducted around 9.30pm found a cardiac condition. Doctors attributed the death to the cardiac condition, though no autopsy was conducted before her last rites. Priya remained under treatment through the night and died on Friday.