Students made to clean toilets in Bhadravati govt school, headmaster suspended

SHIVAMOGGA: In yet another instance, this time in Primary Education Minister Madhu Bangarappa’s home district, students of the government higher primary school at Guddada Neralekere village in Bhadravathi taluk were made to clean the school toilets. The school headmaster has now been suspended.

Several parents and leaders of the Dalit Sangharsha Samiti (DSS) alleged that the children are made to clean the toilet regularly, that too without any protective gear. They vented their ire against the school authorities and lodged a complaint with tahsildar and deputy commissioner.

“We are made to clean the toilet and sweep three days in a week. When I refused, the headmaster asked to take a transfer certificate. I informed my parents about this. This has been going for a long time”, said one of the girl students.

“The headmaster would force us to clean toilets and sweep. We have been doing this for long. Three girls are sent to clean the toilet in batches and the boys clean their toilet”, said another girl student.

The Deputy Director of Public Instruction said, “We have already issued instructions to the school heads through the block education officers not to use children to clean toilets. We will take strict action against the in-charge school headmaster Shankarappa based on the report filed by the BEO”.