Dalit students of an aided high school near Kalakkad in the district were being forced to clean the toilets in the school, the Communist Party of India has alleged.
Its cadres submitted a petition to Collector M. Karunakaran on Monday, asking him to direct Kalakkad police that had registered a case on Friday last to conduct a proper enquiry into the issue.
The petitioners, led by T. Paulraj, CPI’s East Vadakarai secretary, said the Dalit students of Hindu High School, having a total strength of around 550 students, at Keezhapaththai Pandithankurichi near Kalakkad were being forced to clean the toilets while students from other communities were being spared.
“Since there is no watchman or conservancy worker in this aided school , the Dalit students are being compelled to clean the toilets. Though this practice is in vogue for the past several years, the matter came to light only recently after the offended students narrated this practice to their parents,” said Mr. Paulraj.
CPI farmers’ wing deputy secretary P. Perumbadaiyar was present. Pressing for a similar demand, two Dalit outfits also submitted petitions to the Collector.
