SRINAGAR: With academic session about to culminate in Kashmir, the school education department is distributing school uniforms meant for students admitted to government schools, raising questions over the move.
The uniforms provided by J&K Samagra Shiksha to students up to middle classes are ideally distributed at the beginning of academic session. But Kashmir Reader has learnt that uniforms were sent to the schools in several
districts as recently as last week.
In Budgam, the uniforms meant for over 30,000 students enrolled at 1114 primary and middle schools were provided last week. Similarly, 57000 students admitted at 1350 primary and middle schools in Anantnag got uniforms in
October. The schools falling in Ganderbal district received the consignment in August.
The uniforms, as per the official, were of “no use to the students” as they would come to schools in casual wear during their regular class work.
The uniforms were purchased through J&K Handloom Corporation for the erstwhile Jammu and Kashmir from this year. Earlier, the purchases were made at respective zones resulting in swift distribution of uniforms.
Project Director Samagra Shiksha J&K, Arun Kumar Manhas, acknowledged that there was a delay in distribution of uniforms among students.
He attributed the reason to tendering process which was done across J&K instead at zonal level.
The process was done to ensure quality and accountability in purchasing the uniforms, Manhas added.

Irshad Khan