School uniforms, bags & shoes to reach over 1.5 cr students by Feb 2

PRAYAGRAJ, January 20 (HS): School uniforms, bags and shoes are yet to reach over 1.5 crore students of UP government schools as the authorities have fixed yet another deadline of February 2 to complete the process. “Despite the 2020–21 academic year approaching the end, an inspection of all the UP districts has found that bags, shoes and socks distribution is still pending. A deadline of January 18 was given to the districts to complete it. However, it is still pending. Now, a fresh deadline of February 2 has been given. All the district education authorities have been asked to complete the distribution process or face action” read the order issued by Sarvendra Vikram Bahadur Singh, UP basic education director, a copy of which is with HS.

With just two months of the academic session left, most districts are yet to procure the material. After several delays, the government had fixed January 18 as the deadline for the completion of distribution. However, an inspection found that most districts have not even received the stock till now. It forced the department to shift the goal post. A new date, February 2, has now been fixed. Instructions have been given to complete the distribution or face action.

“As part of the state government’s annual exercise, free distribution to over 4.13 lakh children, studying in classes one to eight in government-run primary and upper primary schools of the district will commence in the last week of January,” said BSA Prayagraj while speaking to HS. BSA Prayagraj has issued a supply order for the shoes as per norms to a new Haryana based firm–Manjeet Plastic Industries and instructed the block education officers (BEOs) concerned to ensure delivery of these shoes before January 25, 2021 for quick distribution.

“The new shoe supplier, as selected by the state government, will give a 12-month warranty for the shoes that it would be supplying. Free shoe distribution will be done in the presence of the members and parents of the school management committee, following social distancing,” said BSA-Prayagraj Sanjay Kumar Kushwaha confirming the development. A team has been formed at the block level to monitor shoe distribution to children. This team will report daily to the BSA, he explained. The BSA said socks would also be distributed to the students by January 25, 2021. Similarly, the last date for delivery of school bags that are also to be distributed free of cost to the students has been fixed as February 2, 2021, he added.