Principal Arrested As Dalit Students Forced To Clean Septic Tank In Karnataka School

In a deeply distressing incident at Morarji Desai residential school in Kolar, Karnataka, the principal and a teacher have been arrested, and four contractual staff have been terminated following the emergence of alarming visuals. These visuals depict Dalit students engaging in manual scavenging, forbidden in India for around three decades. This banned practice, persisting in defiance of regulations, leads to numerous deaths annually, often due to suffocation.

The Morarji Desai residential school accommodates 243 students, including 19 girls, spanning Classes 6 to 9. Shockingly, at least four students were allegedly compelled to descend into a septic tank and clean it manually as a punitive measure. This not only jeopardizes their lives but exposes them to enduring trauma.

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A separate video showcased students subjected to corporal punishment, kneeling with burdensome schoolbags at night. One distressed boy is observed gasping for breath while classmates attempt to aid him with water. These distressing visuals triggered widespread public outrage, prompting Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to take immediate action.

The arrested principal, Bharatamma, and teacher, Muniyappa, now face charges of negligence and dereliction of duty, leading to their suspension. The Karnataka Residential Educational Institutions Society disclosed that officials from the social welfare department personally witnessed teachers physically assaulting students, underscoring the urgent need for comprehensive corrective measures.