DEOs directed not to ask students to purchase uniforms from shops
Representational Image CHANDIGARH: Punjab education department has directed district education officers not to ask government school students to purchase uniforms from any shops. In guidelines framed by the department for ensuring timely distribution of uniforms, it has been made clear that any interference by district education officer will be viewed as misconduct.
The government provides a set of free winter uniform - shirt and trouser for boys, salwar and kameez for girls, shoes, socks, and sweater - for students from primary to Class XII. The rate of each set of uniform has been increased Rs 400 per set to Rs 600.
School management committees have been entrusted with the responsibility of getting uniforms stitched and distributing them among students in their respective schools. Required funds will be transferred into account of committees for making payments to suppliers at their level. The committees have also been directed to ensure that uniforms distributed among the students are of quality and proper size. Last year, the department was flooded with complaints about wrong size uniforms supplied to schools. The firm hired by the department allegedly supplied uniforms without seeking any details about size of uniforms required in schools.
Delay in distribution of uniforms has become a norm in last few years. Expressing displeasure over delay in distribution of uniform, Punjab and Haryana high court in December last year had direction the state government to release grant for purchasing school uniforms within two weeks. The direction was issued on a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by advocate H C Arora. The HC also had to intervene in November 2015 to ensure that students get winter uniform in time.
To ensure timely distribution, the school management committees have been directed to immediately initiate the process as per the laid down norms. After distribution of uniform, principals\head masters have been asked to submit certificate stating that uniforms were provided in time.
The government provides a set of free winter uniform - shirt and trouser for boys, salwar and kameez for girls, shoes, socks, and sweater - for students from primary to Class XII. The rate of each set of uniform has been increased Rs 400 per set to Rs 600.
School management committees have been entrusted with the responsibility of getting uniforms stitched and distributing them among students in their respective schools. Required funds will be transferred into account of committees for making payments to suppliers at their level. The committees have also been directed to ensure that uniforms distributed among the students are of quality and proper size. Last year, the department was flooded with complaints about wrong size uniforms supplied to schools. The firm hired by the department allegedly supplied uniforms without seeking any details about size of uniforms required in schools.
Delay in distribution of uniforms has become a norm in last few years. Expressing displeasure over delay in distribution of uniform, Punjab and Haryana high court in December last year had direction the state government to release grant for purchasing school uniforms within two weeks. The direction was issued on a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by advocate H C Arora. The HC also had to intervene in November 2015 to ensure that students get winter uniform in time.
To ensure timely distribution, the school management committees have been directed to immediately initiate the process as per the laid down norms. After distribution of uniform, principals\head masters have been asked to submit certificate stating that uniforms were provided in time.
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