Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan expressed profound concern over the tragic self-immolation attempt by Soumyashree Bishi, a student of Fakir Mohan Autonomous College in Balasore, Odisha.
Visiting AIIMS Bhubaneswar on Monday, where the victim is receiving treatment, Pradhan met with her parents and brother to offer support and discuss her condition with doctors. Describing the incident as “deeply disturbing and serious,” he emphasised collective responsibility to prevent such tragedies in educational institutions.
“As the head of the Education Ministry and a parent, I feel personally accountable,” Pradhan stated, underscoring the sanctity of the teacher-student relationship, which he likened to that of parents and children. He expressed alarm over the deterioration of this bond, noting that similar incidents in other educational institutions are a grave concern. “We must introspect on the state of our society and ensure such incidents do not recur,” he urged.
ବାଲେଶ୍ୱର ଫକୀର ମୋହନ ସ୍ୱୟଂ ଶାସିତ ମହାବିଦ୍ୟାଳୟରେ ଘଟିଥିବା ଅଘଟଣରେ ଛାତ୍ରୀଜଣକ ଭୁବନେଶ୍ୱର ଏମ୍ସ ହସ୍ପିଟାଲରେ ଚିକିତ୍ସାଧୀନ ଅଛନ୍ତି । ତାଙ୍କର ବାପା ମାଆଙ୍କୁ ଭେଟି ସମବେଦନା ଜଣାଇବା ସହ ଛାତ୍ରୀଙ୍କ ସ୍ୱାସ୍ଥ୍ୟାବସ୍ଥା ସମ୍ପର୍କରେ ଏମ୍ସ କର୍ତ୍ତୃପକ୍ଷଙ୍କ ସହ ଆଲୋଚନା କଲି । ସେ ଶୀଘ୍ର ସୁସ୍ଥ ହୋଇ ଘରକୁ ଫେରନ୍ତୁ, ଏହା ମହାପ୍ରଭୁଙ୍କ… pic.twitter.com/pCDRrGOQKf
— Dharmendra Pradhan (@dpradhanbjp) July 14, 2025
Pradhan commended the Odisha state government’s swift response, highlighting Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi’s visit to AIIMS on Sunday after returning from New Delhi. He noted that the state has taken decisive administrative and legal steps, with AIIMS providing comprehensive medical care despite the victim’s critical condition.
“I am satisfied with the state’s prompt and firm actions, and I hope exemplary measures will continue,” he added. The minister also addressed attempts to politicise the incident, urging focus on the victim’s recovery and systemic reforms.
Accompanying Pradhan were Balasore MLA Manas Kumar Dutta, Jharsuguda MLA Tankadhar Tripathy, Ekamra-Bhubaneswar MLA Babu Singh, and BJP leaders Bishwaranjan Badajena, Rajendra Panda, and Rana Pratap Patra. The incident has sparked widespread concern, with calls for stronger measures to ensure safety and accountability in educational institutions across the country.
