The government approves funds for two school uniforms every year for students of classes 1 to 8 in Zilla Parishad schools across the state. An amount of Rs 600 per student has been approved for this academic year, and the local school management committees have been given the authority to spend it directly. However, along with this authority, serious responsibility has also been placed on their shoulders. The education department has given a clear warning that if the quality of the uniform is found to be poor, the concerned school committee will be held responsible.
School committees have been given the right to choose the color, design and type of fabric of the uniform. But while making the selection, orders have also been given to ensure that the quality, durability and non-irritating nature of the fabric are ensured. In particular, school committees will have to follow a strict rule that the type of fabric should not be 100% polyester. All the rules like taking the measurements of each student properly before purchasing the uniform, selecting quality fabric while purchasing, and distributing the uniform on time will have to be strictly followed.
Along with this, it has also been included in the responsibility of the school to encourage students to wear uniforms regularly. All Zilla Parishad Education Officers and Group Education Officers in the state have been ordered to visit the schools directly after the distribution of uniforms and check the uniforms of the students. In this process, the quality, proper distribution and use of uniforms will be verified center-wise. Under the Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan, about 42 lakh 97 thousand 790 students are beneficiaries under the PM Shri and Rajya Ganvesh Yojana. Under the scheme, Rs. 600 per student has been approved for two sets of uniforms, and accordingly, the Government of India has approved in principle the proposal of Rs. 181 crore 47 lakh 97 thousand.
The Education Department has directed the Group Education Officers to provide proper guidance to the school committees so that the right decision can be taken for the purchase of uniforms. The committees have been urged to study the various options in the market and select quality fabrics and take special care to ensure that the funds are used properly and transparently. The main objective behind this decision of the state government is not just to provide uniforms to the students, but to increase their self-esteem through quality and clean uniforms and to bring uniformity in education.
Therefore, the government, education officers, school committees and teachers are expected to work together to make this process a success. This year, the process of distributing uniforms in schools will not be just a formality, but will be an important step in quality education. If the school management committees take decisions responsibly and in a transparent manner, students will benefit in the true sense.