Dehradun School Principal Suspended for Forcing Students into Manual Labour

The principal of a government primary school in Dehradun has been suspended following allegations that she forced young students to perform manual labour by filling potholes on the school campus. The incident, which surfaced through a viral video on October 6, 2025, has sparked outrage among parents, educators, and child rights advocates, highlighting persistent infrastructure neglect in rural and semi-urban public schools across India. Authorities acted swiftly on October 7, placing the principal on immediate suspension pending a detailed probe.

The controversy erupted at the unnamed government primary school in T Estate, Banjarawala area, where footage captured children in crisp school uniforms—typically aged 6 to 10—shovelling sand and gravel into metal trays before balancing the heavy loads on their heads to patch uneven surfaces. The video, which rapidly spread on social media platforms, showed at least a dozen students engaged in the task under apparent supervision, raising immediate concerns about child safety, exploitation, and the diversion of educational time. Local reports indicate the potholes stemmed from poor maintenance, a common issue in underfunded state-run institutions that serve over 1.5 million primary students in Uttarakhand alone.

Dehradun District Education Officer (Basic) Premlal Bharti confirmed the suspension of principal Anju Mainduli, who has been directed to submit a written explanation within three days. "Such actions are unacceptable and violate child protection norms under the Right to Education Act, 2009," Bharti stated, emphasising that schools must prioritise learning over labour.

Concurrently, the block education officer for the Raipur region has been tasked with a thorough investigation, including witness statements from students, staff, and parents, with a report due soon. This probe aims to determine if the activity was coerced or part of a misguided "community service" effort and whether other officials were complicit.

Also Read: Newly Inaugurated Sairang Station Found Covered in Garbage

The episode underscores broader systemic challenges in India's public education sector, where crumbling infrastructure often burdens the most vulnerable. Activists from groups like the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) have called for enhanced monitoring and funding, noting similar incidents in states like Bihar and Madhya Pradesh in recent years.

Parents of the affected children expressed relief at the suspension but demanded counselling for the students and immediate repairs. As the investigation unfolds, it serves as a stark reminder of the need for accountability to safeguard children's rights in educational settings.

Also Read: Pro-Pakistan Slogans Disrupt Bhadravati’s Eid Milad Festivities