Odisha Student’s Tragic Death Exposes System’s Brutal Failure
You know how sometimes news hits you right in the gut? This is one of those stories. A young B.Ed student in Balasore—just trying to get an education—set herself on fire after nobody would listen to her cries for help. And here’s the kicker: she’d been shouting about the harassment for months. Now everyone’s outraged, but where were they when she needed help? Makes you wonder how many more girls have to suffer before things actually change.
What Exactly Went Down?
Her Fight to Be Heard
This girl—let’s call her Priya because she deserves that much dignity—was studying at Fakir Mohan College. From what her friends say, she filed complaint after complaint about some creep harassing her. Wrote letters, begged the college admins, even went to the cops. And what did she get? Blank stares and filing cabinets. “She kept asking why nobody cared,” one classmate told me, voice shaking. That kind of thing stays with you.
The Final, Terrible Step
Last Tuesday morning, Priya walked up to the college gates, poured kerosene over herself, and lit a match. Just like that. People ran to help, but it was too late. They found a note in her bag that said: “I knocked on every door. They were all closed.” Turns out her official complaint had been sitting in some office for weeks. Makes you sick, doesn’t it?
Why Does This Keep Happening?
When Systems Fail
We’ve got this POSH Act—supposed to protect women in schools and workplaces. Colleges must have these Internal Complaints Committees. But here’s the thing: half these committees exist only on paper. Fakir Mohan’s? Might as well have been a ghost committee. And the police? They didn’t even file an FIR. It’s like everyone was playing hot potato with her life.
The Real Problem No One Talks About
In small towns like Balasore, if a girl speaks up, suddenly she’s the problem. “What will people think?” families worry. Colleges care more about their reputation than their students. So complaints get “lost”, girls get pressured to stay quiet. And the numbers don’t lie—barely any campus harassment cases in Odisha actually get resolved. What’s that about?
People Are Finally Mad—But Is It Enough?
The morning after Priya died, about 500 people showed up at the college gates. Students were shouting, “We want justice!” Politicians started their usual blame game—opposition demanding resignations, government calling it “unfortunate”. Meanwhile, #OdishaBurns was all over Twitter. Lot of noise, but will anything actually change?
Some Small Steps
Good news is the Human Rights Commission has woken up—they’re investigating the college and police. Bad news? The guy Priya accused has already vanished. Typical. A local lawyer put it best: “Every person who ignored her is responsible for this.” Damn right.
We’ve Got Laws—So Why Don’t They Work?
Paper Tigers
India’s got decent laws against harassment. Problem is, they’re about as useful as a chocolate teapot if nobody enforces them. Did you know most Odisha colleges don’t even have proper complaint committees? And the ones that do? Members couldn’t spot sexual harassment if it bit them. Like my lawyer friend says: “What’s the point of laws when the system thinks girls are lying?”
What Actually Needs to Happen
- Surprise checks on these complaint committees—with real consequences
- Special fast courts just for campus harassment cases (justice shouldn’t take years)
- Some anonymous way for students to report stuff without fear
More Than Just Hashtags
Right now, there are candlelight vigils across Odisha for Priya. But candles won’t fix this. As one student leader yelled at a protest: “We need to burn down the whole damn system that failed her!” If you or someone you know is struggling, call [HELPLINE NUMBER]. Don’t let them silence you.
The Bottom Line
This isn’t just about one girl in one small town. It’s about every time a woman speaks up and gets ignored. Until we start treating harassment complaints like the emergencies they are—instead of annoying paperwork—nothing will change. Priya’s story proves one awful truth: When justice comes too late, it’s not justice at all.
FAQs (What People Actually Want to Know)
What can you do if you’re being harassed?
First, document everything—save texts, emails, whatever. Tell someone you trust, whether it’s a teacher or an NGO. And always, always keep copies of any complaints you file. Cover your back.
What’s Odisha doing about this now?
Government formed some “special team” to investigate and promised to check all college complaint committees. But let’s be real—we’ve heard these promises before. Show me the results.
Why don’t more girls report harassment?
Would you, if you saw what happens to those who do? Between the shame, the blame, and the system working against you? That’s the million-dollar question we need to answer.
Source: Navbharat Times – Default
