State govt tightens free uniform norm, sets fabric standards

Nagpur: The Maharashtra govt amended its free uniform scheme for govt and local body school students from the academic year 2026-27, mandating minimum fabric quality standards, stitching through women's self-help groups (SHGs) and distribution on the first day of school. Some school teachers were vary if the deadline could be met, considering schools will start in less than a month. The school education department on Friday directed all stakeholders that uniforms now must not be made of 100% polyester, something that was allowed earlier. Fabric must have a minimum composition of 70:30 or 80:20 polyester and viscose or cotton to avoid harm to students' skin. The Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) logo, which was earlier called Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan, must be printed on the front of each uniform. A school teacher working in Zilla Parishad said, "By June 26 the schools will reopen, which means the uniforms will have to be distributed by June 25. The decision has come now and we still need clarity on choosing SHGs, if more than one operate in an area." Under the free uniform scheme, all girls in Class 1 to Class 8 in govt and local body schools, SC/ST boys, and children of parents below the poverty line are entitled to free uniforms. The benefit was extended to children of parents above the poverty line from the academic year 2023-24 under the state scheme. All stitching must be carried out through local women's SHGs. Where local SHGs are not available, the school management committee (SMC) must certify this before approaching a nearby SHG. Child Development Project officers have been directed to encourage all SHGs to contact local body schools for stitching work.A quality inspection mechanism has been put in place, operating at multiple levels. At the basic level, kendra pramukhs (KP) must inspect 100% of schools under their jurisdiction. The number of schools under a KP varies, but the average is around 12. The block education officers must inspect at least 30% of schools under their purview. The district-level head, education officer (primary), must inspect 10 schools per taluka. Where substandard fabric is found, samples must be sent to a laboratory immediately and legal action taken against the supplier and the SMC. Education officers (primary) must also randomly collect samples from at least one school per taluka and submit reports to the department HQ. The HQ will also appoint state-level inspection teams to cover at least eight districts. One of the two uniforms distributed must preferably follow Scout and Guide colours — sky blue shirt with dark blue half pants for boys, and a sky blue shirt with dark blue pinafore frock or salwar for girls.