Hyderabad: The National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC) has taken cognizance of a controversial audio clip allegedly involving 2012 batch IAS officer VS Alagu Varshini, in which she is heard making derogatory remarks about Scheduled Caste (SC) students at a Telangana residential school.
In a letter dated May 31, addressed to the Chief Secretary and Director General of Police of Telangana, the Commission referenced the clip under the subject line, “Derogatory remarks against SC Gurukula students by A Varshini.” The commission has asked the state government to submit an action-taken report (ATR) within 15 days of receiving the notice.
Though the letter was issued last week, the issue came into the public eye only on Monday, when the contents of the audio were widely reported in the media.
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Controversial Remarks Spark Backlash
In the purported audio, Ms Varshini, who serves as the Secretary of Telangana Residential Educational Institutions Society (TREIS), is allegedly heard defending the practice of making students clean toilets, sweep floors, and cook rotis.
“They must do the room cleaning. Who will clean their rooms? If a sweeper can do it once, why can’t the students do it on other occasions?” she reportedly said, adding, “Similarly, why can’t they clean their own toilets? What is wrong with it?”
Ms Varshini went on to advocate for introducing ‘shram daan’ (voluntary labor) in the schools as a part of life education. She also reportedly warned that parents objecting to such practices would receive show-cause notices.
Secret Recording Raises Privacy and Ethical Concerns
The remarks were allegedly made during a closed-door meeting with school staff, which was secretly recorded by an unidentified individual and subsequently leaked. The authenticity of the clip is yet to be officially verified, but the tone and content have triggered outrage among civil society groups and SC activists.
NCSC Intervention and Public Response
The NCSC’s intervention comes amid growing criticism over the treatment of SC students in state-run educational institutions, particularly in residential schools. Activists have argued that forcing students from marginalized communities to undertake menial chores reinforces caste hierarchies and violates constitutional values.
The Commission has warned that failure to respond within the stipulated time may invite further proceedings under constitutional provisions meant to safeguard Scheduled Castes.
No Official Response from State Yet
As of now, the Telangana government has not issued an official statement regarding the audio clip or the NCSC notice. Efforts to reach IAS officer Alagu Varshini for comment have remained unsuccessful.
