Mandya: District minister S Cheluvarayaswamy has directed the zilla panchayat chief executive officer to submit a report regarding the alleged incident of schoolchildren allegedly engaged in masonry work at a govt HPS School in Nalkundi village of Nagamangala constituency.It was reported that students, as part of Eco Club activities, were seen holding plants and assisting workers within the school premises.Addressing reporters in Maddur, the minister said he already sought information from the officials concerned. He maintained that involving students in activities such as planting saplings, campus cleaning and minor maintenance inside the school compound should not automatically be viewed as a violation. “A lapse would arise only if children were taken outside the school premises for labour in private fields or subjected to exploitation,” he clarified.However, the minister said that if the inquiry reveals any improper intent, negligence or violation of child protection norms, strict action will be taken against those responsible.Mandya DDPI Lokesha told TOI the activity was part of an Eco Club initiative undertaken at a cost of Rs 9,000. “Students were within the school premises, holding plants and equipment. Nevertheless, we will conduct an inquiry into the matter,” he said. He also mentioned that none of the students was forcibly involved in any work, and those who were found helping were doing so voluntarily.
