Controversy after video of students cleaning school toilet goes viral
A government school in Tamil Nadu has created a furore after a video purportedly showing its students scrubbing the toilet floors went viral. Students of RM Jain Government Girls Higher Secondary School, Tiruvallur, have claimed their principal forced them to do so. If they refused, they were beaten and threatened with expulsion. Officials have assured action against the school authorities. Here's what happened.
This happened despite the school getting govt aid for toilet-cleaning
Some Tamil TV channels aired a video showing a girl in uniform weeping and cleaning the toilet floor. She asks another to bring some water and pour it on the floor. The other girl complies. Interestingly, RM Jain, which has about 1,000 students in classes 6-12, has 10 toilets and gets Rs. 2,500 monthly from the state government for their cleaning.
Principal questioned, report sent to higher authorities
The girls have reportedly been cleaning the toilets since November 24. When they informed their parents, they rushed to the school to complain, but were sent away. Later, a complaint was made to district officials. A team, including the district education secretary, then visited and questioned the students as well as the principal. A report has been sent to higher authorities, officials said.
