Arunachal: Delay in free uniform distribution sparks concerns as students wait over 8 months

Government school students across Arunachal Pradesh continue to attend classes without free uniforms, despite an allocated fund of Rs 18 crore lying unused since June 2024.

 

As the academic year nears its end, the prolonged delay has raised concerns among parents and citizens about the potential mismanagement of funds within the state's Education Department. The uniform package, meant to include shoes, belts, neckties, and complete dress sets, remains undistributed.

 

Education Commissioner IAS Amjad Tak recently announced plans to switch to Direct Beneficiary Transfer (DBT) for uniform disbursement. "We're moving away from the tender system due to past discrepancies. The DBT approach will ensure funds reach students directly through their bank accounts," Tak explained in an October 2024 interview with India Today NE.

 

The previous academic year's uniform distribution faced criticism over quality issues, with students reporting incomplete sets missing belts and shoes. The situation has worsened as other welfare schemes face implementation challenges. The Pradhan Mantri Poshan Yojana (formerly Mid-day Meal scheme) reportedly provides meals irregularly, with some students receiving khichri only once every two days.

 

The Education Department attributes the delay to inactive bank accounts and students without banking access. District education officers have been instructed to help parents open bank accounts for their children to facilitate the DBT process.

 

This disruption comes as the new state government attempts to reform the education system through initiatives like Chintan Shivir. While schools have received textbooks for the current academic year, the uniform delay continues to affect thousands of students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds.

 

The Commissioner confirmed in July 2024 that the central government had released the funds, raising questions about the extended delay in implementation.