Bhubaneswar, 21st Aug 2025: The deadline has passed, but school students are still waiting for their uniforms. Even though August 15 has gone by, children had to attend Independence Day functions in their old uniforms. Despite a strict order to distribute uniforms by July 15, authorities have failed to meet the target.
According to teachers, confusion and disputes over which self-help group (SHG) would take responsibility for supplying uniforms have caused the delay. In some places where distribution has taken place, allegations have surfaced that suppliers bypassed local tailoring units and instead procured low-quality, cheap readymade uniforms from outside the state.
The state government had decided to distribute two pairs of free uniforms worth ₹500 per student by July 15 to all students from Class 1 to 8 studying in government, government-aided, and ST/SC Development Department schools. As per guidelines, uniforms were to be procured from SHGs with tailoring units and MSMEs with garment production units. If they refused to supply, School Management Committees (SMCs), with the Collector’s approval, were authorized to purchase uniforms.
The Odisha School Education Programme Authority (OSEPA) had also directed that color, size, and quality of the uniforms must be ensured within the deadline. For this academic year, under Samagra Shiksha, uniforms were sanctioned for 41,31,024 students from Classes 1 to 8.
Parents, however, have expressed anger over the delay, questioning why the uniforms have not yet reached their children.
A teacher in Bhubaneswar said that only house club uniforms were distributed in schools, but regular school uniforms have not been supplied yet. Reports from Puri (Kanas block), Bhadrak (Chandbali), and Kendrapara districts also confirm that no distribution has taken place.
Teachers alleged that political pressure is stalling the process. Some SHGs without tailoring units are lobbying to secure the work, and those who managed to get it are supplying poor-quality uniforms sourced from Kolkata instead of producing them locally.
Traditionally, uniforms are distributed before August 15 every year, so that children can attend Independence Day celebrations in fresh clothes. This year, however, many students came in worn-out, torn uniforms — and some first-grade students are attending school without uniforms at all.