Teachers point to delays if Maharashtra education department buys schools uniforms’ cloth

PUNE: The state education department's plan to purchase cloth and distribute it to district education offices and then to schools for stitching of uniforms has been opposed by schools and teachers who cited delays in the process.
A few years ago, the state government gave the purchasing part to the districts. However, the education department has gone back to a centralised process where they will purchase the cloth and distribute it to districts and to school management committees which will stitch uniforms. It will bring uniformity and save money in bulk purchases.
Education commissioner Suraj Mandhare told TOI on Thursday that a meeting with the education minister and other department officials was held two days ago where school uniforms were discussed.
“The plan to centralize the system is still not final. A decision is expected in the next 3-4 days. If it does not come, then we will continue with the old decentralised system. The new decision will be implemented from the next year,” he said.
In the present system, school uniforms are distributed at the school level after they receive funds in May. The school management committee members appoint the nearest tailor.
However, the education department felt there was no standardisation and the shades, quality of cloth used, and stitching was affected.
Mandhare said, “If we centralise the system, the current issues would be resolved. We may involve self-help groups to stitch the uniforms. Cloth can be purchased in bulk which would bring uniformity across the state. Quality will be maintained and women’s groups involved in stitching would become self-sustainable.”
The state government's previous attempt to centralize the system failed because of the corruption involved in the tendering process. The district education officers were then made to take responsibility and disburse funds to schools for stitching uniforms at their own level.