HYDERABAD: Class 8 students of Kendriya Vidyalaya, Sivarampalli were allegedly made to clean toilets using acid and toxic materials by the principal of the school.
Although the incident is said to have happened on September 3, it only came to light on Tuesday after the child-right activists approached the labour department against the school management claiming that students were made to clean toilets. The school principal, however, denied allegations.
“Students were made to use acid and other toxic materials to clean the washrooms, which in turn, can make them sick. This comes under employing children in hazardous occupation and is against the provisions of the Child Labour Restriction Act,” said Achyuta Rao, honorary president of Balala Hakula Sangham, who filed the complaint with the labour department. He demanded the suspension of the principal and added that a case will also be filed with the Kendriya Vidyalaya Sanghatan.
The school’s principal DV Sandhya said that one of the teachers made students pose with cleaning products as part of Swachhata Pakhwada, which is being observed from September 1 to 15 in all schools across the country.
“I was not even aware that she took students into the washroom and took these photos. As part of the Swachhata Pakhwada programme, she was assigned the duty of inspecting toilets. While inspecting, she made five students pose as if they are cleaning toilets and posted them in a few WhatsApp groups,” said Sandhya.
CBSE had advised all its affiliated schools to observe Swachhata Pakhwada from September 1 to September 15 by observing various days including Swachhata Shapath Day, Swachhata Awareness Day, Swachhata Awareness Day, Personal Hygiene Day among others. Apart from ensuring maximum participation of all the stakeholders in the Swachhata Pakhwada, schools were also asked to submit photographs, video films etc everday.
The teacher in question, B Bhagyalakshmi, said that she wasn’t aware that she couldn’t ask students to accompany her during the inspection or make them clean premises.
“Students wanted me to take their pictures. I did not think this will be an issue when I posted them in our internal group,” said Bhagyalakshmi.
Labour department officials said that they verified CCTV footage and noticed that children came out of the washroom along with a teacher within three minutes.
“We inspected the school and noticed that there is no employee-employer involved in this case. This doesn’t come under our purview. However, during our investigation students confirmed that they did not handle any toxic material, but were only posing for pics,” said Pramod Reddy, deputy commissioner of Labour Department, Ranga Reddy.
Government School students made to sweep the classroom
In another incident, students of Government High School, Hydershakote were allegedly made to sweep the classroom floor. In a video being circulated on social media sites, two girl students were seen sweeping the classroom with broomsticks. Child-right activists demanded suspension of headmaster and teachers for asking students to clean the classrooms.
Although the incident is said to have happened on September 3, it only came to light on Tuesday after the child-right activists approached the labour department against the school management claiming that students were made to clean toilets. The school principal, however, denied allegations.
“Students were made to use acid and other toxic materials to clean the washrooms, which in turn, can make them sick. This comes under employing children in hazardous occupation and is against the provisions of the Child Labour Restriction Act,” said Achyuta Rao, honorary president of Balala Hakula Sangham, who filed the complaint with the labour department. He demanded the suspension of the principal and added that a case will also be filed with the Kendriya Vidyalaya Sanghatan.
The school’s principal DV Sandhya said that one of the teachers made students pose with cleaning products as part of Swachhata Pakhwada, which is being observed from September 1 to 15 in all schools across the country.
“I was not even aware that she took students into the washroom and took these photos. As part of the Swachhata Pakhwada programme, she was assigned the duty of inspecting toilets. While inspecting, she made five students pose as if they are cleaning toilets and posted them in a few WhatsApp groups,” said Sandhya.
CBSE had advised all its affiliated schools to observe Swachhata Pakhwada from September 1 to September 15 by observing various days including Swachhata Shapath Day, Swachhata Awareness Day, Swachhata Awareness Day, Personal Hygiene Day among others. Apart from ensuring maximum participation of all the stakeholders in the Swachhata Pakhwada, schools were also asked to submit photographs, video films etc everday.
The teacher in question, B Bhagyalakshmi, said that she wasn’t aware that she couldn’t ask students to accompany her during the inspection or make them clean premises.
“Students wanted me to take their pictures. I did not think this will be an issue when I posted them in our internal group,” said Bhagyalakshmi.
Labour department officials said that they verified CCTV footage and noticed that children came out of the washroom along with a teacher within three minutes.
“We inspected the school and noticed that there is no employee-employer involved in this case. This doesn’t come under our purview. However, during our investigation students confirmed that they did not handle any toxic material, but were only posing for pics,” said Pramod Reddy, deputy commissioner of Labour Department, Ranga Reddy.
Government School students made to sweep the classroom
In another incident, students of Government High School, Hydershakote were allegedly made to sweep the classroom floor. In a video being circulated on social media sites, two girl students were seen sweeping the classroom with broomsticks. Child-right activists demanded suspension of headmaster and teachers for asking students to clean the classrooms.
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