Pune: Joint director of the Maharashtra Prathamik Shikshan Parishad (Maharashtra Primary Education Council) Devidas Kulal issued a circular on July 8 saying that school management committees (SMCs) and suppliers would face legal action if school uniforms distributed under the state’s free uniform scheme were of poor quality.The circular directed district education authorities to carry out extensive inspections, send fabric samples for laboratory testing and initiate legal proceedings wherever uniforms were identified as substandard.Kulal said that while no reports confirming inferior quality clothing had come till now, education officers were told to randomly take samples of the uniform fabric from at least one school in each taluka during inspection and get it tested. “The laboratory reports should be submitted to our office,” he added.The circular mandated that cluster heads needed to inspect every school’s uniforms, the block education officer check 30% of schools and the education officer (district) see at least 10 schools in each taluka. They must send samples to the laboratory in case uniforms are found wanting in quality. It also directed that payments to suppliers be released only after uniforms have been distributed to all eligible students and the quality verified.Students in local govt-run schools from classes I to VIII receive two sets of free uniforms — one being of scouts or guides.However, educationists have raised concerns regarding the timing of the circular.President of the Maharashtra State Primary Teachers’ Forum Vijay Kombe said, “Vendors have already sent the fabric as per specifications. The department should have done it themselves if they are so concerned. Most schools have got both sets of uniforms stitched and have already paid. The govt is yet to give the first instalment of Rs60 from the entire Rs300 to be paid per uniform. Vendors and women in SHGs, who stitched the clothes, need payment upfront. In rural areas, farmers or workers comprise the SMC and teachers have paid from their own pockets. Let the govt check if they want, but the circular is too late. They should have done this immediately after the fabric was purchased.”Member of Maharashtra School Principals’ Federation Mahendra Ganpule said it was wishful thinking to verify so many pieces of clothing. “There are not enough govt laboratories and verifying so many samples will be difficult. Additionally, the govt is paying a meagre Rs300 for the entire uniform, which is too little in the current times. Finally, the uniforms are ready and paid for, so they can’t deny payment to the SMCs,” he added.
