The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has notified the Telangana government over a report alleging hardships faced by female students due to the lack of toilets at a high school in Nalgonda district. In a statement issued on March 18, the NHRC observed that the contents of the news report, if true, amount to a serious violation of the human rights of the female students, as stated in a report by PTI.
In this regard, the NHRC said it has "taken suo motu cognisance of a media report that the female students are facing hardships due to the lack of toilet facilities in the Devarakonda Zila Parishad High School for Girls in Nalgonda district".
“Reportedly, female students started using the urinals at Sulabh complexes but had to discontinue using them when asked to pay money. After this, the girls started using free toilets at Devarakonda Bus Stop. However, the management stopped them from using the toilets and they were sent back," it said.
The facility of toilets in the schools for the students, especially for the female students, is one of the basic amenities to be ensured and provided by the management. The statement said, "Forcing the female students to use the public toilets outside the schools at Sulabh complexes and the ones available at the bus stops, raises many issues of grave recklessness about the safety and security of the female students.”
Accordingly, the commission has issued notice to the chief secretary of the government of Telangana, seeking a detailed report in four weeks. The report should include the steps taken or proposed to be taken so that such incidents do not recur, it added.
