SC panel issues notice after Telangana IAS officer orders students to clean toilets
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The National Commission for Scheduled Castes has issued notices to Telangana’s chief secretary and the director general of police following allegations against an Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer who reportedly directed students at welfare schools to clean toilets. The commission has demanded an action-taken report within 15 days.
The controversy emerged after an alleged audio clip of S Alagu Varshini, secretary of the Telangana Social Welfare Residential Educational Institutions Society, instructing school principals to incorporate cleaning duties into students’ routines at welfare hostels and classrooms was widely shared online. The society, which operates under the state welfare ministry, provides education specifically to students from Scheduled Caste communities.
In the audio clip, Varshini was heard explaining that many students come from extremely poor backgrounds and need to learn how to care for themselves, even while at home. She reportedly questioned why students could not clean their own rooms and toilets if sweepers could do so occasionally. She further warned that parents objecting to the cleaning directive would face show cause notices.
The IAS officer’s remarks sparked significant criticism. RS Praveen Kumar, Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) leader and former secretary of the welfare society, demanded Varshini’s resignation. He condemned the directive as an unfair burden on marginalized children, arguing that such ‘holistic education’ measures should start with affluent children in privileged environments, not those from oppressed communities who already face numerous hardships. Kumar also urged Chief Minister Revanth Reddy and other government officials to personally experience life in welfare hostels to understand the challenges faced by these students.
BRS MLC K Kavitha, who circulated the audio clip on social media, criticised the Congress government for its ‘anti-poor attitude’ demonstrated by the IAS officer’s remarks. Kavitha highlighted that during the previous BRS administration, social welfare schools received monthly grants of Rs 40,000 each to hire temporary cleaning staff, a provision that was discontinued by the current government starting May this year. She also claimed that assistant caretakers were removed from 240 schools, forcing students to take on responsibilities such as managing hostels and kitchens.
Kavitha described the directive as discriminatory, exploitative, and a violation of basic child rights and dignity. She stated that such behaviour contradicts the very purpose of Gurukuls, which were established to protect students from caste and class bias. She demanded that the state government take action to remove the IAS officer.
In response, Varshini released another audio clip, shared with the media, urging that her comments not be politicised or taken out of context. She denied allegations that sanitation staff were absent from schools and said that children helping with household chores is a normal activity that contributes to their growth as responsible individuals. Varshini added that tasks such as cleaning rooms, washing bathrooms, and doing laundry help students develop self-discipline alongside their studies, though she acknowledged such transitions take time.
