Now Reading: Ludhiana govt school students await uniforms four months on
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Ludhiana govt school students await uniforms four months on
Four months after the academic session began in April, several students in government schools in Ludhiana are still waiting for their uniforms. Many newly enrolled children, especially pre-primary and general category boys, are attending classes in civilian clothes, teachers said.
Schools submitted uniform requirements after enrolments closed in mid-May, but bills sent to the education department have not been cleared. The payment delay has also affected vendors: some supply uniforms despite pending dues, while others wait for payment, leading to uneven distribution across schools.
Deputy district education officer (elementary) Manoj Kumar said the process is being expedited and bills will be sent to the treasury once received from block offices. Teachers’ unions said coordination with vendors has helped some schools get uniforms, but the department has yet to clear the pending bills.
Indian Opinion Analysis
The delay highlights a recurring cash-flow bottleneck in Punjab's school uniform scheme, where state-level budget releases often lag behind local procurement cycles. Under the scheme, the education department reimburses schools after uniforms are supplied, but vendors, usually small tailors or local shops, cannot absorb long payment gaps. A similar hold-up last year in several districts left students without uniforms for up to five months. The state government allocated Rs 38 crore for uniforms in 2024-25, but treasury clearance depends on documentation from block education officers. Parents of newly admitted children, who cannot borrow uniforms from older siblings, bear the brunt. The next milestone to watch is whether the bills reach the treasury before the next monthly payment cycle ends.
Source: hindustantimes.com
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