Dalit Students Face Inhuman Treatment in Telangana Gurukuls
Article Today, Hyderabad:
A shocking controversy has erupted across Telangana following the leaked audio of Alugu Varshini, the Secretary of SC Gurukuls (Residential Schools for Scheduled Castes), who made derogatory and inhumane remarks about Dalit students.
In the audio, which has gone viral on social media, Varshini is heard justifying making students clean toilets and rooms, claiming they are not from a “posh society.” Her statements have sparked outrage among Dalit communities and human rights activists, raising serious questions about caste-based discrimination within the state’s education system.
“They’re Not from Posh Society” – The Controversial Justification
In the leaked audio clip, IAS officer Alugu Varshini can be heard saying that there is nothing wrong with students cleaning their own toilets or rooms. She claimed that Gurukul students are not from high-class backgrounds and should not expect special treatment. “Why is it wrong if they clean their toilets? They are not from posh society. If they sit at the table and expect food to be served, that’s not going to happen,” she is heard saying.
Such remarks not only insult Dalit students but also reinforce caste-based stereotypes. When photos surfaced of students being made to cook chapatis at a Gurukul school in Jammikunta, Varshini defended the practice by saying it was a good habit. She questioned, “What’s wrong with students cleaning their rooms?”
Threats Through Show-Cause Notices
The audio also revealed Varshini’s misuse of her official position. When some parents raised concerns about students being forced to do cleaning work, she allegedly threatened to issue show-cause notices and warned that the students could be sent out of school. “Don’t complain, this is my order,” she told officials, directing them to enforce her instructions strictly.
She further added that if chapati-making or cleaning is required, students must comply. Complaining against such duties would not be entertained. She even went so far as to criticize children for not dusting classrooms, saying they lacked basic understanding and responsibility.
Denial and Political Blame Game
Following the public outrage, Alugu Varshini responded to the controversy by claiming that her audio was edited and misrepresented. She accused her critics of using the issue for political gains and denied any wrongdoing. According to her, asking students to maintain cleanliness in their surroundings is not only reasonable but also necessary.
However, her explanation has done little to calm the anger among Dalit groups and civil society organizations. They argue that such language and actions from a senior IAS officer reflect a deep-rooted caste bias and a failure of the education system to treat all students with dignity and equality.
A Wake-Up Call for the System
This incident has not only brought disrepute to an individual officer but also exposed the flaws and caste prejudice within the Gurukul education system. It raises troubling questions about how Dalit children are being treated in state-run institutions meant for their upliftment. If those in positions of power see them as “slaves” rather than students, what hope is left for social justice?
In a society that claims to be progressing, such regressive and cattiest attitudes show how far we still have to go. The Telangana government now faces the moral responsibility to take action, not just against one official, but against a larger system that allows such discrimination to survive in silence.
