No change in budget for shoes for schoolkids
Parents and teachers have raised concerns about their quality as School Development and Monitoring Committees (SDMCs) have to operate within the budget.
In Karnataka, shoes and socks are supplied to nearly 40 lakh students. This year, Rs 111 crore was earmarked for this initiative. SDMCs are responsible for procuring these items, allocating a budget of Rs 265 per set for grades 1 to 5; Rs 295 for grades 6 to 8; and Rs 325 for grades 9 to 10.
In coastal, Malnad, and some north Karnataka districts, chappals have been supplied instead of shoes due to monsoon that last for four months. The education dept has launched this programme in 2015-16 to encourage regular attendance and reduce dropout rates among students.
"Over the years, the budget allocation for the purchase of the footwear has remained the same, but the price of the footwear has risen. We are trying our best to supply the best-quality footwear to our children after taking quotations from many vendors.
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Also, they are given after Sept when there is a decrease in rainfall," said an SDMC president. A schoolteacher also added that the footwear given to children does not last more than six months.
A vendor said there are many conditions for procuring them, and one of them is the ISI mark. "When the SDMC is unable to procure the materials as per the budget allocation, they go for low-quality ones. As a result, the footwear provided to children becomes unusable after a few months.
I try my best to supply material at the price and provide only ISI certified ones. We have sold goods to schools with no profit or at times incurring loss," the vendor shared.
Mohidduin Kutty, president of SDMC coordination committee, said they ask for a minimum warranty of six months from the vendors for the material supplied. "Footwear supplied must be used only with the uniform. However, we have noticed that children use it during playtime as well, which cuts down its life," said Kutty.
V Rashmi Mahesh, principal secretary to govt, department of school education and literacy, was unavailable for comments.
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