Schoolchildren still await winter uniform

Karam Prakash
Tribune News Service
Patiala, January 31 

As many as 12.7 lakh government school students in the state have not received their winter uniform until now. 

With temperature continually dropping by the day, students of government schools are yet to receive the uniform. The state government had claimed that woollen uniform would be given by January 31; however, nothing has been done so far by the Education Department. 

On December 31, 2018, the State Project Officer, under the Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan, had ordered the school management committee to procure uniforms by the end of January. But, overruling their own orders of purchasing through committee, the Education Department has decided to purchase the uniform through a tendering process. 

However, due to their lackadaisical attitude towards children, the process to purchase uniforms is yet to start. 

Following the delay, the Education Department is facing flak from teachers and parents for not providing the uniform until now.

Government school teachers lamented that the winter season was about to get over and lakhs of students were awaiting winter uniform.

Gagan Ranu, teacher, Government Middle School in Patiala, said: “The winter season is nearing end, but students of government schools are yet to get uniform. They are either going to school without sweaters braving the cold or wearing casual clothes.”

Kulbhushan Bajwa, District Education Officer, said: “Until now, we have not received school uniform. The state officials will now buy the uniforms after a new circular was issued in the first week of January. Moreover, we do not have intimation from the higher officials regarding winter uniforms.”

The scheme

Launched in 2010-11, the scheme for providing girls, SC and BPL boy students in government schools from Classes I to VIII with uniform is funded by the Union Human Resource Development Ministry. The uniform is provided once a year; however, students have not received the uniforms since May 2016.

Out of the total, 7.12 lakh girl students — from Class I to VIII — and 4.85 lakh boys of the SC category will get uniform under the scheme. As many as 77, 997 boys belonging to BPL category will also be benefited under the said scheme.   

Crucially, the Education Department has made no provision of free uniform for the general category boys.

The uniform

An amount of Rs 600 each has been sanctioned for uniform, which includes a trouser, a shirt, a pair of shoes, socks, a cap or turban and a pullover for boys and a salwar-kameez with dupatta, pullover, a pair of shoes and socks for girls.