Pregnant Woman in Odisha Lost her Child After Denial of Leave by Officer

Kendrapara, Odisha: A 26-year-old employee of the Odisha government claims she lost her unborn child after allegedly being denied leave despite experiencing severe labor pains. The incident, which occurred on October 25, came to light on Tuesday when the woman, Barsha Priyadarshini, shared her ordeal with the media

Barsha, employed with the Women and Child Development Department in the Derabish block of Kendrapara district, was seven months pregnant when she began experiencing intense pain at work. She alleges that despite pleading for assistance to be taken to the hospital, her requests were ignored by her superior, Child Development Project Officer (CDPO) Snehalata Sahoo, and other staff. According to Barsha, she was also mistreated by Sahoo.

Later, Barsha’s family took her to a private hospital in Kendrapara, where an ultrasound confirmed the tragic loss of her baby. Barsha attributes her loss to what she described as “mental harassment and gross negligence” by the CDPO. She has filed a written complaint to the district collector, seeking strict action against Sahoo.

Additional District Magistrate (ADM) Nilu Mohapatra stated, “Upon receiving the complaint, the district administration has directed the District Social Welfare Officer (DSWO) to conduct an investigation and submit a report. Appropriate action will follow based on the findings.” Expressing concern, Deputy Chief Minister Pravati Parida also addressed the incident, stating on social media that she had instructed the Kendrapara collector to conduct a thorough investigation.

Meanwhile, DSWO Manorama Swain confirmed that a committee will be formed to examine the incident, and a report will be submitted promptly. Responding to the allegations, CDPO Snehalata Sahoo stated she was unaware of Barsha’s distress on the day in question.