CDPO Kendrapara: Bhubaneswar, (Reporterspen), Oct 29: A woman clerk in Odisha’s Kendrapara district tragically lost her baby after allegedly being denied leave by the Child Development Project Officer (CDPO) while experiencing severe labor pains at work. This incident occurred on October 25.
Barsha Priyadarshini, an employee of the Women and Child Development Department in the Derabis block, had been attending work regularly during her seventh month of pregnancy. On that day, she felt intense pain and urgently pleaded with CDPO Snehalata Sahoo and other officials to take her to the hospital. Reports indicate that the CDPO ignored her pleas and reportedly misbehaved with her.
Barsha’s family members arrived at the office and took her to a private hospital, where an ultrasound confirmed that the baby had died. A video that has since gone viral shows the CDPO arguing with one of Barsha’s relatives at the office.
In a media statement, Barsha claimed that the CDPO had subjected her to harassment for the past three years, stating, “I could not endure the mental stress, which affected my baby. In August, I fainted at the office and informed both the in-charge deputy collector and the sub-collector about it. She is a demon in woman form who killed my baby in the womb.”
Barsha has since submitted formal complaints to the district collector and the Superintendent of Police, demanding strict action against the CDPO.
