Under the ‘Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan’ programme, the state government doles out low-quality and incomplete garments
Team Clarion
MUMBAI — Miffed at the low quality and incomplete uniforms provided to them under the state government’s ‘Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan’ programme, about 800 Urdu medium Zilla Parishad schools across Maharashtra have returned them to the authorities. The move comes as students and educators expressed their dissatisfaction with the quality of the uniforms provided under the state government’s ‘Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan’ programme.
The affected schools are spread across the state including areas like Thane, Bhiwandi, Palghar, and Raigarh.
According to Sajid Nisar, General Secretary of the Akhil Bharatiya Urdu Shikshak Sangh, the state government had promised to provide two sets of uniforms to students in classes 1 to 8 through the School Management Committee (SMC). However, despite the commencement of the academic year over three and a half months ago, many schools have yet to receive complete uniforms. Instead of full pants and shirts, boys have been given half pants, while girls have received only kameez, sparking frustration among students, parents, and educators.
Nisar stated, “There have been numerous appeals to provide full pants and shirts to Urdu medium students, along with kameez and shalwar for girls. The current uniforms are unacceptable, leading to widespread dissatisfaction.” He highlighted that the unanimous decision to return the uniforms was made by the SMCs of Urdu medium schools, illustrating the collective discontent over the issue.
Hidayat Naik, an assistant teacher at Sakhartak Zilla Parishad School in Ratnagiri, echoed the sentiments, noting that the 170 Zilla Parishad Urdu schools in the district, which serve approximately 5,000 students, have all returned the provided uniforms. “Parents are unhappy with the incomplete and inappropriate uniforms given to their children. It reflects poorly on our commitment to providing quality education and resources,” Naik remarked.
The SMCs of Urdu medium schools in Mumbai also expressed their discontent, unanimously demanding the provision of full pants for boys and kameez and shalwar for girls. The dissatisfaction is not merely about attire; it represents a broader concern regarding the attention given to the needs of Urdu medium students within the educational framework.
Educational organisations have urged Maharashtra’s Education Minister, Deepak Kesar, and higher authorities to address this pressing issue. The request is clear: provide appropriate uniforms that meet the cultural and practical needs of Urdu medium students. As these schools return the uniforms, it is evident that the current situation cannot persist without significant changes.
The response from the state government remains to be seen, but the voices of the Urdu medium educational community are growing louder, demanding the respect and resources necessary for their students to thrive in a supportive educational environment.
