Tamil Nadu : Tribal Girl Forced to Clean Toilets in School Uniform, Principal Suspended

Girl Forced to Clean Toilets: A shocking video that emerged showing a young girl in her school uniform cleaning toilets at Palakkodu village, Dharmapuri district, Tamil Nadu has stirred public fury. The little girl is reportedly a student in the school for mostly tribal kids. The young girl was holding the broom and toilet brushes as she went about cleaning toilet seats. Anger and public protest followed over the video footage and led to the suspension of the school headmaster.

According to a report, around 150 tribal students are allegedly being served at the school that has become a focal point with parents claiming their children are made to clean toilets and fetch water during school time.

The furious parents organized a protest in front of the school, calling for strict action against the school authorities. While addressing the media, one of the parents stated, “We send our children to school to study, not to clean. When they come home, they are too tired to do their homework. We later found out that instead of focusing on their education, they are being made to clean the school.”

One of the parents showed tears after hearing that her child’s fatigue was not caused by heavy studies, but instead it was due to the labor which the school enforced on her. Many of them complained that such a schedule did not only degrade their children’s education but also humiliated them.

Following the public outcry, Dharmapuri’s Chief Education Officer (CEO) launched an investigation. The District Education Officer (DEO) later confirmed that the school principal was suspended and assured parents of a thorough inquiry into the matter.

The DEO said, Such incidents are unacceptable. Schools are meant to be centers of learning and growth, not places where children are subjected to forced labor. We will ensure appropriate measures are taken against those responsible.

This incident has thrown open a broader question about the treatment of tribal students and the educational facilities available in far-flung regions. Activists and local leaders have demanded systemic reforms to ensure quality education to tribal children without any discrimination or exploitation. With the probe into the case going on, the parents and activists are waiting for justice and reforms that would stop such incidents from happening again in schools of Tamil Nadu.