Parentless youth's battle with wrong records: Odisha rights panel orders probe

The Odisha Human Rights Commission (OHRC) has directed the Sundargarh district administration to investigate how incorrect parental names appeared in the official documents of a parentless university student, an error that has denied him government assistance and cast uncertainty over his education and identity.

The complainant, identified only as Praveen (name changed), is a graduate student at Gangadhar Meher University in Sambalpur. Raised in childcare institutions, he has navigated life without knowing his biological parents. The discrepancies in his certificates and Aadhaar card—where the names listed as his father and mother vary between documents—have become a major obstacle in accessing welfare schemes meant for orphans and persons with disabilities. Praveen also has a hearing disability.

Recounting his ordeal, Praveen said he was left at the gate of Sarbabhutik Shishu Seba Ashram in Rourkela when he was around five years old. After the institution closed in 2012, he was shifted to Rourkela Sishu Bhavan. It was there that he first encountered the mismatch.

'At Sishu Bhavan, the names Munna Ekka and Kan Ekka were recorded as my father and mother. But when my Aadhaar card was made, P. K. Senapati, the superintendent of the institution, was recorded as my father. My ordeal began there,' Praveen said. The conflicting records meant he could not prove his identity as an orphan, blocking his access to scholarships and disability support.

After completing matriculation, Praveen was initially denied admission to Plus Two at Sundargarh Government College. It took the intervention of the district collector to resolve that issue. But the deeper problem remained uncorrected. Repeated complaints to authorities drew no action, and when he tried to update his Aadhaar card himself, he was asked for documents he did not have.

'When I tried to correct my Aadhaar card myself, executives at common service centres asked me for my date of birth, residence certificate and parents' details—documents I simply did not have. I fear these discrepancies will ruin my career and my life,' he said.

Praveen’s case came to light in the third week of August during an awareness programme at his university, where an OHRC team was present. He submitted a written account of his journey from childhood to university. Taking serious note, the Commission ordered a 13-point inquiry into how the names came to be recorded and what remedial measures are needed. The district collector has been asked to complete the inquiry within five days, with the next hearing scheduled for September 1, 2026.

The OHRC has described the matter as a serious human rights concern. Human rights activist Biswapriya Kanungo said the case may not be isolated. 'The Women and Child Welfare Department should direct all childcare institutions to identify similar cases. As society moves increasingly towards digital records, discrepancies in educational and other personal documents can jeopardise a person's future,' he said.

The case highlights the vulnerabilities faced by children growing up in institutional care, particularly in a system where identity documents are crucial for accessing education, welfare and employment. For Praveen, the fight is not just about correcting a clerical error—it is about affirming his existence and securing a future he has worked hard to build.