Children found cleaning school premises: NHRC calls for number of regular safai karmacharis/peons in UP Government schools.

New Delhi, 31st May, 2013

In a landmark case, the National Human Rights Commission has directed the Uttar Pradesh Government to inform it as to whether there are regular Safai Karmacharis/Peons to take care of menial jobs in the premises occupied by primary, middle and higher secondary schools run in all the districts by the State Government. A notice has been issued to the Chief Secretary, Uttar Pradesh, calling for a report in the matter within two months.
The directions have come following a suo motu cognizance taken by the Commission of a media report alleging that students of primary and higher secondary level schools are made to clean the school premises before attending their daily classes. The Commission has observed that the contents of press report raise a serious issue of violation of right to education of the students.
According to the report, children are even engaged in pulling the cart and carrying the mid-day meal. They were found doing such menial jobs in Government schools of Gangerua, Pahasu and Thujapur villages in district Bulandshahar on 28th May, 2013.

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