Dr. Varshini, in the purported audio clip, is allegedly heard saying that students might spend, at most, 20 hours over six months performing these tasks, which she said did not consider a burden.
Published May 28, 2025 | 2:22 PM ⚊ Updated May 28, 2025 | 2:23 PM
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Synopsis: The IAS officer created a row in Telangana after she reportedly told school principals to make students take up basic chores like sweeping floors, cooking meals, cleaning blackboards, and toilets. Critics said that making students do such jobs is discriminatory, exploitative, and in violation of child rights.
An audio clip, purportedly of Dr. VS Alugu Varshini, Secretary of the Telangana Social Welfare Residential Educational Institutions Society (TGSWREIS), has sparked a controversy. The clip contains recording of the officer allegedly instructing school principals to make students undertake cleaning duties—including toilets and hostel rooms—as part of their routine at welfare hostels and classrooms.
An audio clip, purportedly of Dr. Varshini speaking at a recent review meeting and which went viral on social media on Wednesday, 28 May, captured her explaining that such tasks were part of the “holistic education” model envisioned by the state government.
She criticised school principals for failing to train students in basic chores like sweeping floors, cooking meals, cleaning blackboards and toilets, due to fear of backlash from parents.
“If any parent objects, tell them it is my order,” she was heard saying in the clip. “What is wrong with a child learning how to keep their surroundings clean? After completing SSC, these children may struggle if they don’t possess such basic life skills. Most of them come from poor families—some have alcoholic parents or lack parental support at home. If they can’t cook or clean, who will help them once they leave school?”
Dr. Varshini said students might spend, at most, 20 hours over six months performing these tasks, which she said did not consider a burden. “They are not from posh families where food appears on the table at the snap of a finger. This is not hard labour. They must know their responsibilities in the school and the hostels. We will make them do it, and that is final.”
Recalling a complaint from a parent about their child being asked to make rotis, she defended the practice: “What’s wrong with that? The child is learning a skill. In fact, I’ll post such pictures in the principals’ (WhatsApp) group so others can follow.”
The official said she took pride in shouldering similar responsibilities as a student, including cleaning blackboards and sweeping floors, describing it as “Shram Daan” (voluntary service). She urged principals to foster an environment where students can learn such life skills and warned parents not to threaten or intimidate staff.
“If they do, I will issue a show-cause notice and send their children away,” she added.
However, her statements drew strong criticism, with many seeing them as undermining the purpose of the Gurukul system, which was designed to protect and empower students from marginalised communities.
Critics argued that making students clean toilets and perform menial labor is discriminatory, exploitative, and in violation of child rights. Such actions, they said, would reinforce caste and class-based hierarchies, and could lead to psychological harm, stigma, and increased dropout rates.
The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (1989) prohibits degrading treatment of children, and India’s Right to Education Act (2009) mandates a safe and inclusive school environment, free from such practices.
Opposition Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) condemned the IAS officer’s comments, with MLC K Kavitha accusing the Congress government of exhibiting an “anti-poor” attitude.
“Under the BRS government, each welfare school received ₹40,000 per month to hire four temporary workers for cleaning tasks. That funding has been withdrawn since August last year. Assistant caretakers have also been removed from 240 schools, forcing students to manage kitchen duties and other responsibilities,” she said in a statement.
Kavitha said the officer’s remarks contradicted the very foundation of Gurukuls, which aim to protect children from caste- and class-based discrimination.
“This is not just insensitive—it’s exploitative. It reflects the Revanth Reddy-led Congress government’s anti-poor, anti-Dalit mindset,” she said, demanding the officer’s removal and immediate restoration of necessary funds to ensure proper functioning of social welfare schools.
(Edited by Majnu Babu).
