Special Correspondent
Pune: This year, the distribution of school uniforms has taken place, but the delivery of scouts’ and guides’ uniforms has faced significant delays. While the central government allocated funds to Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan for the uniforms, only 41,00,457 students from below-poverty-line (BPL) categories have received their scouts’ and guides’ uniforms. However, an issue has emerged in eight districts, where 3,59,507 students from non-BPL categories have yet to receive their uniforms.
The uniforms, which include both school attire and separate outfits for boy scouts and girl guides, were meant to be provided free of charge to all students in classes I to VIII at government schools, covering Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and BPL students. The Women Economic Development Corporation procured the school uniforms, while the fabric for the scouts’ and guides’ uniforms was purchased under the Ministry of Textiles, a central government initiative.
Although the Women’s Economic Development Corporation successfully sent the school uniforms to the schools, the fabric for scouts’ and guides’ uniforms was delivered as bales of cloth. Many districts faced challenges with the stitching process, but now, with the issues resolved, the stitching of uniforms has commenced, and distribution is expected to follow soon.
To date, all girls from local government schools in the state, including those from Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and 41,00,457 students from BPL backgrounds, have received their scouts’ and guides’ uniforms. However, the uniforms for 3,59,507 non-BPL students, mainly from the OBC and open categories, have become entangled in bureaucratic delays. The lack of state government funding for these students has caused the issue, as the state did not allocate funds for the non-BPL uniforms.
The education department in these districts has already submitted a request for funds to the school education department. Despite this, with only three months left in the academic year, it remains uncertain whether the funds will be made available in time.
