KGBV student’s death sparks demands for accountability and support

Neradigonda – Telangana: The tragic death of B Soujanya, a 9th-grade student at Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalayam (KGBV) in Neradigonda mandal, Adilabad district, has raised concerns about institutional negligence and prompted calls for justice, accountability, and financial assistance for her bereaved family.

Student dies after illness

B Soujanya, a student at the KGBV in Neradigonda, reportedly suffered from vomiting and diarrhea. She was later shifted to Adilabad RIMS Hospital, where she passed away. Community leaders allege that her condition, initially manageable, worsened due to a delay in shifting her to an advanced medical facility.

Concern over school management and staffing

Gavvala Srikanth, State President of the Telangana SC, ST, BC Minority Students and Youth Association, expressed concern over the functioning of KGBV institutions. He said that several schools lacked regular staff and called for systemic improvements to ensure student welfare. He urged authorities to review staff appointments and ensure that future incidents are prevented through better monitoring and accountability.

Appeal for support to the bereaved family

Srikanth highlighted the difficult situation of Soujanya’s family. Her mother, B Anita, is reportedly in poor mental health and has three younger daughters to care for. He urged the government to:

Provide Rs 5 lakh in financial assistance to the family
Offer a government job to the mother
Allot five acres of land
Construct a house under the Indiramma housing scheme
Support the education of the three younger siblings

He appealed to the district administration to act swiftly and compassionately in support of the family.

Call for investigation and reforms

While emphasizing the need for accountability, Srikanth demanded a fair and thorough investigation into the incident. He also proposed renaming KGBV schools after Savitribai Phule and converting them into Gurukul-style institutions with full-time, trained staff.

Protest warned if demands unmet

Srikanth, along with other community leaders including Durgam Pradeep Kumar, Gavvala Ramakrishna, Jadi Vijay Kumar, and others, said they would consider staging a protest in front of the Adilabad DEO office and Collectorate if appropriate action and support were not extended promptly.