Shahdol, September 8: A disturbing video from Gortra village in Madhya Pradesh‘s Shahdol district has gone viral, showing school children cleaning the rooftops of their school without any safety precautions. The footage reveals that the school building was covered in moss, and there were no visible safety measures in place for the children who were climbing to clean the heights.
The video, which features students from a government primary school, has sparked outrage among parents and villagers, especially since the children were made to clean the rooftops after heavy rains had left them slippery.
Following the video’s circulation on social media, Anand Rai, the Assistant Commissioner of the Tribal Department, stated that an investigation will be conducted into the matter.
In a similar incident, a video from Bihar recently surfaced, showing children being made to clean during class hours at a government school in Kokla. The students were seen using shovels for cleaning tasks while classes were ongoing, reportedly at the instruction of the headmaster.
Another video from Mandla district showed children cleaning school premises and toilets instead of attending classes. This incident raised serious questions about the allocation of funds for cleanliness in schools, as children were being assigned these tasks despite adequate budget provisions.
In response to the viral videos, the education department has taken notice and issued show-cause notices to four teachers involved in these incidents.
It is important to note that children aged 6 to 14 have a constitutional right to free and compulsory education, as mandated by the Right to Education (RTE) Act. Engaging children in regular work instead of education violates their rights, and such practices can lead to legal consequences under Section 17 of the RTE Act.
As these incidents highlight the ongoing issues within the education system, it is crucial to ensure that children’s rights to education and safety are upheld.