OdishaPlus Bureau
The tragedy at Fakir Mohan College is not just a failure of one system, but of all those that chose silence over justice. Empowering students starts with listening to them, believing them, and protecting them.
The matter of college educators soliciting sexual favors from students in Odisha has attracted considerable attention, particularly following the recent high-profile case at Fakir Mohan College, which underscores systemic challenges in tackling sexual harassment within educational institutions.
The female student, who tragically lost her life, was enrolled in the integrated B.Ed. program at Fakir Mohan College. She self-immolated on campus after her complaints regarding sexual harassment by the head of the education department, Samir Kumar Sahu, were ignored. The student accused Sahu of persistently demanding sexual favors and threatening to undermine her academic prospects should she refuse to acquiesce.
The Fakir Mohan incident highlights more extensive issues within Odisha’s educational establishments, such as delays in addressing grievances, insufficient student representation on internal complaints committees, and efforts by college officials to stifle allegations. Clearly, such occurrences illustrate a recurring pattern of inaction or cover-ups, with students often facing retaliation or skepticism when they report misconduct.
Although the Fakir Mohan case is the most current and extensively covered, there have been other reports of sexual harassment within educational institutions in Odisha. For instance, in 2024, a principal in Kendrapara was accused of sexually harassing two minor girls, which resulted in their decision to stop attending school. These incidents suggest that the issue is not limited to colleges but also affects other educational levels, even though incidents specific to colleges are documented less frequently.
India’s Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition, and Redressal) Act, 2013 (POSH Act) requires colleges to form Internal Complaints Committees (ICCs) to tackle sexual harassment. Nevertheless, the Fakir Mohan case underscores the shortcomings in the effective implementation of these mechanisms, as the ICC reportedly did not respond promptly.
The response of the Odisha government to the Fakir Mohan incident—suspending the principal and detaining the accused—indicates an effort to mitigate public anger. Nevertheless, opposition parties have condemned the Mohan Majhi administration, claiming negligence on the part of college officials and law enforcement.
In this particular instance, the fear of retaliation, societal stigma, and a lack of confidence in institutional procedures discourage students from coming forward. This situation reflects a wider pattern in India, where incidents of sexual harassment frequently go unreported due to societal pressures and the tendency to blame victims.
The Fakir Mohan incident highlights considerable deficiencies in Odisha’s higher education framework, particularly in the enforcement of anti-harassment regulations and the timeliness of responses. The reliance on student demonstrations and drastic measures, such as self-immolation, to draw attention to these issues indicates a breakdown in institutional responses.
Although the government’s actions—arrests and suspensions—represent progress, the lack of preventive strategies and insufficient student representation in Internal Complaints Committees (ICCs) reveal more profound systemic problems. The FM case has another dimension – cultural attitudes that discourage questioning the authority.
Survivors of sexual misconduct by educators endure emotional, academic, and professional repercussions, with many grappling with feelings of fear, shame, or the threat of retaliation, which compels them to take their own lives.
Educational institutions in Odisha, including schools, colleges, and universities, are urged to establish clear policies, offer training on appropriate boundaries, and create safe environments for female students.
