Teachers say no to dress code

Tribune News Service

Dehradun, July 24 

Members of the State Teachers’ Federation have refused to follow the state government’s order on dress code for school teachers provided they are given uniform allowance.

Ram Singh Chauhan, chairman of the State Teachers’ Federation, said, “Unless and until the state government gives us uniform allowance every month, we will not abide by the government’s diktat.” He rued the state government was ignoring was several problems being faced by the teachers in the state. 

However, the Uttarakhand government is in no mood to roll back the order, which will become effective from August 1. School Education Minister Arvind Pandey said, “There should be no difficulty in complying with the order. It will make the teachers responsible and ensure attendance.” 

The state government has asked the male teachers to wear light blue shirt and steel grey trousers, while women teachers have the option of wearing light blue sarees or light blue salwar-suits. The dress code is also mandatory for school education officers. 

So, far the junior and primary teachers have not opposed the dress code, but with the State Federation of Teachers raising a dissenting note, the teachers are not ruling out an agitation on the issue.

Meanwhile, a similar diktat by the Higher Education Minister Dhan Singh Rawat for teaching staff in colleges too is being opposed. So much so that the minister has decided to go slow on the matter.