Teen pregnancy case: Rules stipulate regular health checks, record maintenance

While a Class IX student delivering a child in the toilet of a government-run residential school in Yadgir district on Wednesday has sent shockwaves, the incident also highlights violations of rules laid down in 2022 by the Karnataka Residential Educational Institutions Society (KREIS).

Once in 15 days

The circular dated April 4, 2022, issued by the KREIS, under which the government residential schools are run for students from the Scheduled Caste, Scheduled Tribe and OBC communities, states explicitly that staff nurses should conduct health check-ups of students once in 15 days and inform the principal, warden and parents if they show symptoms of any health issues. It also stipulates that principals should maintain a medical register and update it periodically.

In the present incident, the girl’s pregnancy went unnoticed by all, including the staff nurse, until she gave birth to a baby in the school’s toilets. Sources said that these rules were not strictly followed in this residential school.

Special care of girls

The rules particularly stipulate that attention should be paid to girl students and they should be educated on menstrual hygiene and related issues. The rules state, “Particularly for the care of girl students, the principal should set up a committee comprising a staff nurse, a warden and teachers designated as counsellors. They should hold meetings periodically and record minutes of the meeting.”

As per the rules, Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram (RBSK) doctors should visit these residential schools at least four times a year, hold medical checks, record them and also instruct the staff nurse on the care of students. It further states that departmental officials, during inspections, should compulsorily check these health records.

KREIS has stated that it framed these guidelines following some “untoward incidents” in a few institutions under its purview and cited reports from Vijayapura, Kodagu, and Uttara Kannada districts.

Accused in custody

Meanwhile, the police are learnt to have taken the prime accused, who had allegedly sexually assaulted the student, into custody.