Srinagar, April 09 (KNB): The Uniform basis of school functioning and in Kashmir in scores of Government schools the same is yet to be provided due to departmental orders locked in tussles. Despite session now in its second month the student community is yet to receive uniforms.
Reliable sources told Kashmir News Bureau (KNB), the entry of Handloom Department from nowhere has complicated the matters.
Sources in the Directorate Sarva Shishka Abhiyan have stated that vide NO: Edu/plan-se/696/2017-018 dated 07-02-2018 matter taken up with Administrative Department has conveyed that as per the programmatic norms of SAA the purpose of school uniform is to inspire a sense of belonging to the school, not to instill a sense of regimented, homogenized, order. Thus, decisions on design and style of uniform should be local, rather than centralized and as per the financial norms of SSA.
Pertinently, the procurement of uniforms is decentralized to the school level, there is no centralized procurement at the state, district or at block level.
According to expert voices, the mention of decentralization makes no room for Handloom department to enter into foray. Rajesh Sharma, Managing Director, Handlooms, while talking to the Kashmir News Bureau stated – “We work as per the directives of Government and it was the educational authorities that wanted us to execute the uniform orders.”
Not so concrete answers from the Handloom Department that under which paradigm they are interfering in this Uniform procedure despite the process being decentralized and not centralized raises many questions than answers.
With clear guidelines of SSA, the sanction given and they being very well aware about the needs of students being an academic department the orders of Handloom Department in this regard and sanction on its own entails too many cooks spoil the broth. (KNB)