Hyderabad: Class VIII Kendriya Vidyalaya students forced to clean toilets

Hyderabad: Students of Class VIII were made to clean the toilets in Kendriya Vidyalaya High School in Shivarampally in the name Swachh Bharat and were not even provided gloves or masks.

“We don't have any problem with taking an active part in Swachh Bharat activities such as cleaning. But the true meaning of ‘swachh bharat’ is to be clean and hygienic so why were we made to take part in an unhygienic act, without any precautionary measures, putting our health at risk?”

The cleaning was done with bare hands! pointed out a student of Kendriya Vidyalaya who did not want to be named.

Students said the school used to punish students for late coming by making them clean the grounds. They said they were fine with that as it was fair to them, however, cleaning washrooms without gloves is what irked them.

Some of the students managed to take photographs of the students doing the cleaning activity and have approached child right activists for help.

Child rights activist Achyuta Rao of the Balala Hakkula Sangham (BHS) has condemned the school's action, asking why children are made to clean toilets when they are supposed to study and play in school. Children can be taught Swachh Bharat activities but they cannot make them do such activities in public spaces, which are not hygienic. The school authorities were unavailable for comment despite repeated calls.