PATIALA, jan 02 :
Winter is half over, but the state government is yet to initiate the process to buy winter uniform for over 12 lakh students covered under a government welfare scheme for promoting education.
In a circular issued on Monday, the director general of school education (DGSE) finally laid out guidelines for buying uniform for girls, students belonging to reserved categories and BPL students from Class I to VIII, for which Rs 76.5 lakh is required.
In all, 60% funds have to be borne by the Centre and the remaining by the state government. Officials in the DGSE office admit to the process starting late, but blame the Union government for it, saying that it did not release the whole amount for promoting education under the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan. On the other hand, the state has not released any money for the purpose.
DGSE Prashant Goyal said, “The process should have been started earlier as winter will be coming to an end in three months. The actual purchase of uniforms is yet to begin.”
The department said it had received only a part of the Centre’s 60% share of the total Rs 76.57 lakh, but nothing from the state’s 40% share. The principal of a government school on condition of anonymity said the delay on part of government officials was affecting education of students. “Their parents have not bought uniforms as these were to be provided by the government. They are now attending school in whatever warm clothes they have,” he said.
Another source in the department said the delay in issuing the circular had been caused due to deferment in providing the details of students by school heads. “Had school heads provided information about the students earlier, the department could have finished the process by November 15, which is the date for changing uniforms,” the source said.
It was learnt that there was no clarification on companies or agents from whom these uniforms could be bought in large numbers. When contacted, education minister O P Soni said the budget to buy the uniforms had been enhanced from Rs 400 to Rs 600 per student. He, however, refused to comment on the delay in buying the uniforms.
