Two months on, govt schoolchildren yet to receive fabric for uniforms

Mangaluru: The government is yet provide cloth material for schoolchildren to make uniforms. Cloth for uniforms, shoes and socks are given to schoolchildren during the beginning of the academic year.
However, even after two months since schools started in the state, schoolchildren have not received cloth to sew uniforms. As a result, they are forced to wear their old sets of uniforms. Last year, the government had promised to give cloth to sew two sets of uniform to each government school student, but they had received cloth for only one pair.
Earlier, the school development and monitoring committee (SDMC) used to stitch school uniforms and claim the cost incurred for the same from the government. The money used to get deposited in the school’s account. However, many a times, the amount deposited was not sufficient to procure the materials required. As a result, SDMC members, villagers and teachers used to collect money and sponsor uniforms for children. The issue was discussed many times at the government level. In the last Belagavi session, it was decided that the department of public instruction will buy and supply uniforms to all schools across the state. “They are yet to call a tender for the same, which has caused a delay. Apart from it, there are also other issues, especially with regards to finance,” said a source from the department of public instruction.
Sources added that tender for shoes and socks are in progress, but that no communication has been received on the supply of uniforms.
Shivaprakash, BEO, Bantwal, said that earlier uniforms were distributed to children in May itself, and they would be stitched by June. However, due to state tender, it has been delayed this year. “Higher officials have assured that uniform materials will reach schools by end of this month. We are waiting for the same.”
Selvamani R, CEO, Dakshina Kannada zilla panchayat, told TOI that there is a delay in the tender process, and that it was cancelled many times. “If the tender doesn’t get through soon, the government plans to deposit the cost of the uniform, directly into the beneficiaries account,” he informed.