A distressing incident has come to light in Uttar Pradesh’s Banda district, where students at a junior high school were reportedly compelled to engage in manual labor. A video circulating on social media depicts children in school attire loading sand, a task deemed unsuitable and illegal for minors, allegedly assigned by school staff. The incident, originating from Achharaund Gram Panchayat in Banda, has sparked worries about the Education Department’s operations.
The video, filmed by Mahendra, a resident of Acharaundh village and son of Rampal, showcases several children using shovels and metal pans to handle sand. Mahendra, whose children attend the same school, has accused the authorities, including teachers, of not only making students perform manual work but also subjecting them to discriminatory treatment. Expressing his dismay, Mahendra urged the government and administration to thoroughly investigate the issue and take stringent action against those responsible.
Outrage has surged among locals and online, with calls for severe repercussions against the implicated individuals. The act of compelling children to labor, whether within school premises or outside, is not only morally wrong but also a punishable offense by law. Responding to the allegations, District Basic Education Officer Avyakt Ram Tiwari clarified that all schools were shut on Friday. While he had not yet seen the viral video, Tiwari assured that an inquiry would be launched upon its verification, with appropriate measures taken based on the investigation’s outcomes.
Despite the criminalization of child labor for those aged 6 to 12, instances where educators are allegedly turning students into laborers within educational institutions persist.
