by: Aswini Kumar Darjee
Bhubaneswar- A series of shocking incidents unfolding across Odisha have exposed a grim reality lurking behind the walls of educational institutions: widespread harassment of female students and a persistent failure to enforce mandatory safety measures. The most distressing case came from Fakir Mohan College in Balasore, where a young student attempted self-immolation following alleged sexual harassment. This horrifying event sparked a public outcry and revealed a deep-rooted crisis affecting students statewide.
As Odisha reels from growing concerns over student safety in educational institutions, several serious cases have emerged that expose a disturbing pattern of sexual misconduct by faculty members across prominent colleges and universities.
At the Veer Surendra Sai University of Technology (VSSUT) in Burla, an associate professor came under the scanner after a PhD scholar accused him of sexual harassment. The allegation rocked the campus and intensified calls for stricter accountability in higher education institutions.
Earlier, a case from BJEM Autonomous College added to the growing list of such complaints. A senior faculty member was accused of inappropriate behavior with a female student. The internal inquiry resulted in departmental action, including his removal from the post of Head of Department and his placement under extended suspension, though not before raising serious questions about institutional delay.
Even Odisha’s premier institution, Utkal University, was not spared. An assistant professor from the Economics department was accused by a female student of sexual harassment. However, the university took disciplinary action only after a long period of silence, eventually suspending the accused after internal pressure and public criticism.
In Bargarh district’s Padampur College, another shocking case surfaced when a professor was accused of sending obscene messages to a girl student. The situation escalated when screenshots of his inappropriate chats with not just one but multiple female students began circulating widely on social media. This prompted a group of victims to submit formal written complaints to the authorities.
Similarly, a disturbing incident came to light from Basic Science College under Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology (OUAT), where a professor reportedly sent inappropriate late-night messages to a student from the Zoology Department. A probe into the matter confirmed the messages were indeed objectionable and unprofessional, strengthening the student’s complaint.
Another deeply troubling report emerged from Jayadev College in Naharkanta. Three female science students alleged that they were subjected to months of harassment by a faculty member. While the institution initially attempted to downplay the issue, one of the students eventually approached the state’s Higher Education Department for justice, bringing the matter into the public domain.
These cases are not just individual instances—they reflect a systemic failure across campuses in Odisha. Repeated delays in disciplinary action, attempts to suppress complaints, and the absence of functioning Internal Complaints Committees (ICs) have only worsened the situation. As more victims come forward with courage, the state’s education system is under intense scrutiny, demanding immediate reform and a zero-tolerance policy for harassment.
The accusations range from sending obscene messages and inappropriate late-night chats to coercing students into physical relationships. Several professors stand accused, and in many instances, actions were delayed or suppressed by institutional authorities. In some cases, it was only after media exposure or intervention by higher authorities that any disciplinary steps were taken.
While these incidents raise serious concerns, the most disturbing aspect is the failure of colleges and universities to implement the Internal Complaints Committees (ICs), which are mandatory under the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace Act, 2013, and the UGC Regulations of 2015. These committees are designed to ensure that complaints of sexual harassment are addressed swiftly and fairly. Yet, despite legal requirements and repeated government directives, many institutions still lack active or functioning ICCs.
Data presented in the state Assembly confirms the alarming situation: between 2020 and February 2025, 72 student suicides were reported, with reasons pointing to harassment, mental stress, emotional trauma, relationship issues, and academic pressure. Experts argue that many of these tragedies could have been prevented if colleges had provided a secure and responsive environment.
In an attempt to fix this broken system, the Higher Education Department of Odisha issued an urgent directive on July 14, 2025. The order mandated that all public and private universities, as well as government-aided and unaided colleges, must constitute Internal Committees (ICs) within 24 hours. Institutions are required to publicly display the names and contact information of committee members, upload this data on the HIMMS portal, and conduct regular sensitization workshops to raise awareness among students and faculty.
However, past experiences cast doubt on whether these orders will be genuinely followed.
Legal practitioner Swagatika Acharya, practicing at the High Court in Cuttack, expressed serious concerns, saying, “The committees may exist on paper, but most remain hidden or are misrepresented to protect the wrongdoers. The system has failed. Today, criminals find safety in the system, while ordinary citizens and especially women remain unsafe.”
Mamata Purohit, Past District Chairman, Inner Wheel District 326, Strongly Speaks Out on Campus Safety Crisis. “The time for silence has passed. The horrifying stories emerging from Odisha’s campuses demand not just outrage, but bold, sustained action. Every educational institution must immediately audit their ICs status, empower students to report misconduct without fear, and embed gender sensitivity into the very fabric of campus life. Compliance must not be a checkbox exercise—it must be a commitment to justice. Authorities must hold non-compliant colleges accountable, and ensure no student ever again feels unsafe or unheard.
Every Individual, Every NGO Must Rise. Creating safe and inclusive campuses is not the government’s burden alone. It is a shared moral responsibility. Every individual—students, teachers, parents—must break the silence around harassment. Awareness must become a movement. NGOs, especially those working in education, youth engagement, women’s rights, and legal empowerment, must step forward to run campus outreach programs, legal literacy drives, gender sensitization workshops, and student support helplines. Change begins when every citizen believes: “If I stay silent, I become part of the problem. If I act, I become part of the solution.”
Let Odisha lead not in headlines of horror, but in stories of transformation—where every student, regardless of gender, studies in an environment of respect, dignity, and safety”.
The ongoing trend of colleges covering up harassment cases or taking no action reflects a dangerous apathy that threatens the safety and dignity of students. From the University of Utkal to Jayadev College and beyond, institutions have displayed a pattern of delay, denial, and defensiveness. Students who gather the courage to speak out often face retaliation, stigma, or complete neglect.
In many colleges, the absence of permanent principals and proper leadership has further weakened accountability. ICs, where formed, often lack transparency and independence. The failure to report annual data, despite being a requirement under UGC norms, points to widespread non-compliance and lack of oversight.
What’s urgently needed is not just another official directive, but consistent monitoring, independent audits, and strong legal consequences for institutions that fail to act. There must also be active participation from students, gender rights organizations, and civil society to create safer campuses.
The Balasore incident should not just be a footnote in Odisha’s education history—it must be a turning point. A place meant for learning should never become a space for fear and exploitation. The responsibility now lies with institutions, the government, and society at large to uphold justice, protect students, and ensure that every campus becomes a space of dignity, safety, and respect.
