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Bengaluru: In a worrying development from Karnataka’s Shivamogga district, students of a government school were found engaged in cleaning toilets. The disturbing incident came to light after a video was circulated on social media, purportedly from the Government Higher Primary School located in Megaravalli area of the district. The footage showed children, some of whom were only of primary school age, reportedly cleaning toilets as part of a school-led cleanliness initiative.
The shocking incident unfolded sometime last week but the video surfaced just now. The headmistress told the BDA students were only asked to pour water and not actually clean the toilets. This is the third such incident in the southern state this month alone.
Last week students of a government school in state capital Bengaluru were also found cleaning toilets. Furious parents and activists staged protests outside the school in the city’s Andrahalli area.
The sight of children using sticks and brooms to clean toilets has raised serious concerns regarding child welfare and the hygiene standards maintained in government educational institutions. The incident has sparked public outrage, with citizens and officials alike demanding an investigation into the circumstances that led to such a worrying situation.
This incident has proved to be quite an embarrassment for the Congress government, especially because Education Minister Madhu Bangarappa hails from the same district. Despite Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s repeated warnings of strict action, the issue of involving students in toilet cleaning activities persists.
Dalit Sangharsh Samiti (DSS) has filed a complaint and requested for action against the accused teachers. Local authorities and school administrations are expected to address the situation and enforce severe penalties against those responsible for involving children in activities that are not only inappropriate but also violate child rights and labor laws.
