Former Tamil Nadu BJP President K. Annamalai has strongly criticized DMK’s School Education Minister Anbil Mahesh, following the circulation of a viral video that showed young students cleaning toilets at a government primary school in Pudukottai district.
The video, reportedly taken at the Namanasamudram Residential Panchayat Union Primary School in Thekkattur Panchayat, features children from Classes 1 to 5 being instructed to clean the school toilets. The footage, which surfaced online on 10 July triggered public outrage and widespread condemnation.
Reacting to the incident on his official X account, Annamalai wrote, “A video showing students cleaning toilets at the Namanasamudram Residential Panchayat Union Primary School in Thekkattur Panchayat, Pudukottai District, is deeply shocking. Tamil Nadu schools are already in a deplorable state, lacking classrooms, clean drinking water facilities, and sufficient teachers while making primary school students under the age of ten to be made to clean toilets demonstrates the extent of degradation how the School Education Department gone.”
He further criticized Minister Anbil Mahesh, stating, “The Minister for School Education, who is still working with a fan club mentality, has, for the past four years, done nothing for the education sector other than participating in publicity stunts with the Chief Minister. Does the School Education Minister even know that making children under ten clean toilets is a crime by law?”
புதுக்கோட்டை மாவட்டம் தேக்காட்டூர் ஊராட்சி, நமணசமுத்திரம் குடியிருப்பு ஊராட்சி ஒன்றிய தொடக்கப்பள்ளியில், மாணவ மாணவியர்களை வைத்து, கழிவறை சுத்தம் செய்ய வைத்த காணொளி மிகுந்த அதிர்ச்சியளிக்கிறது.
தமிழகப் பள்ளிகள் ஏற்கனவே, வகுப்பறைக் கட்டிடம் இல்லாமல், சுத்தமான குடிநீர் வசதி… pic.twitter.com/9c81Zzdpz3
— K.Annamalai (@annamalai_k) July 14, 2025
The incident prompted an immediate response from education officials. When questioned by the media, Pudukottai District Principal Education Officer Shanmugam confirmed the authenticity of the video. He stated that he personally visited the school for a preliminary inquiry. Since teachers were not present during his visit, he spoke to local residents, who confirmed that students had indeed been asked to clean toilets.
Shanmugam added that a detailed investigation would be carried out at the school and assured that disciplinary action would be taken against any staff found responsible for the incident.
Approximately 30 students are enrolled at the school, which serves children from Classes 1 to 5. The event has sparked fresh concerns over child safety, school hygiene, and the enforcement of child labor laws in Tamil Nadu’s government schools.
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