Should Students Clean Toilets? SC Commission Seeks Report On IAS Officer's Remark In Telangana

Last Updated:June 03, 2025, 16:28 IST

Dr VS Alagu Varshini was recorded in a widely circulated audio clip suggesting that students incorporate cleaning toilets and hostel rooms into their daily routine.

Dr VS Alagu Varshini is Secretary of the Telangana Social Welfare Residential Educational Institutions Society (TGSWREIS).

The National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC) has issued notices to the Telangana Chief Secretary and the Director General of Police regarding controversial remarks made by IAS officer Dr VS Alagu Varshini. The Commission demands an action-taken report within 15 days concerning allegedly derogatory instructions given to Gurukul school authorities.

Varshini, Secretary of the Telangana Social Welfare Residential Educational Institutions Society (TGSWREIS), was recorded in a widely circulated audio clip suggesting that students incorporate cleaning toilets and hostel rooms into their daily routine. The audio has drawn criticism, with many alleging discriminatory implications for Dalit students.

Former IPS officer and BRS leader Dr RS Praveen Kumar, a former Secretary of TGSWREIS, condemned the remarks, questioning whether the Chief Minister’s own children would be expected to clean school bathrooms. He called for Varshini’s dismissal, accusing her of perpetuating caste-based discrimination under the pretext of discipline.

BRS MLC Kalvakuntla Kavitha also criticised the officer, characterising her actions as reflective of what she described as the Congress government’s “anti-poor" mindset. She alleged that the current government discontinued the monthly Rs 40,000 budget allocated under BRS rule for employing cleaning staff in Gurukul schools.

According to Kavitha, the elimination of assistant caretaker positions in 240 schools has left students responsible for chores such as cleaning toilets and managing kitchens. She emphasised that Gurukuls were established to shield marginalised students from caste and class-based humiliation, not to expose them to it.

In response, Varshini released an audio message urging against politicising the issue or misinterpreting her comments. She maintained that students from impoverished backgrounds should acquire self-reliance and life skills, including cooking and cleaning. The officer stated that children need to develop independence, particularly in preparation for adulthood without constant parental support. She added that such tasks are commonplace in other countries and should be viewed as contributing to holistic development rather than constituting exploitation.

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