On the second day of the Odisha Assembly’s winter session, the Higher Education Minister Suryabanshi Suraj revealed that eight colleges across the state reported complaints of sexual harassment and exploitation involving female students.
The disclosure came in response to a question raised by MLA Aravind Mohapatra.
According to the minister, Rourkela Autonomous College accounted for three separate incidents. In addition, GM University and Jajpur’s Balia College each reported one case. Complaints also surfaced from Angul, Bargarh, Titilagarh, and Balasore’s FM College, bringing the total to eight institutions.
Out of these, seven cases involved allegations against faculty members for sexual harassment. Meanwhile, one college reported a ragging complaint filed by a female student.
The minister assured the House that authorities are investigating the complaints and taking necessary action to ensure accountability. He emphasised that the government remains committed to protecting students and maintaining safe learning environments across Odisha’s higher education institutions.
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