IAS officer and Secretary of Telangana Social Welfare Residential Educational Institutions Society (TGSWREIS) is at the center of a storm after an audio clip went viral in which she was heard exhorting students to clean toilets.
Dr V S Alagu Varshini's comments were directed at the students of state-run Gurukul schools. A large number of students from underprivileged backgrounds are residents of the Gurukul schools that are spread across the state.
In the audio clip, Varshini was heard saying that the students were not from 'posh society' and that just like how they can make 'rotis' and clean their rooms, they can be given other tasks too. “Why can't they clean their own toilets? What is wrong with it?" she is heard saying in the audio clip.
She also said that it was meant to encourage students to grow up in a 'holistic environment' and made it clear that parents who oppose her directions, will be served a show-cause notice.
On receiving flak for her controversial statements, Varshini attempted to justify them through another audio clip released to the media. She said what she spoke was part of instructions given to school principals and that no sanitation employees were removed from the school.
Commenting that participating in household chores is a daily activity in families, she said intended to pass on the same message to the students and her intention was only to ensure that the surroundings were clean. The IAS officer also listed how facilities have been improved for the benefit of the students.
The opposition party Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS), has criticised the state government and demanded action against the officer. Former IPS officer and BRS leader, RS Praveen Kumar, said that the IAS officer’s attitude amounted to discrimination against Dalits, as a majority of students from the community study in Gurukul schools.
Amidst the row, the National SC Commission has intervened and issued a notice to the Chief Secretary and the DGP of the state. The notice directed the authorities to submit an action report within 15 days.
