Despite a delay in its distribution by nearly four months since schools resumed for this academic year, centrally-distributed school uniforms by the state government continue to be riddled with more issues like inferior quality, frays, incorrect fits and even parts of the attire missing in some cases. Maharashtra’s ambitious plan of "one state one uniform" — which has been marred with controversies since the beginning — has run into newer troubles, as the distribution of these uniforms – two sets per student — has finally begun. Due to various issues with the new uniforms, teachers from government-run schools have complained of having to deal with angry parents, as they demand a return to the old practice of making and distributing uniforms at the school level. A teacher from Beed, said, “With uniforms having reached school, we could see issues with it even before parents started coming to us with complaints. The quality of cloth used for the uniform is very poor. More so, you can find parts that are unstitched. Given that the uniforms have been delated by fourt months, parents are likely to be irked by this product.” The state government, through the Maharashtra Prathamik Shikshan Parishad (MPSP), has from this year decided to centrally provide two sets of stitched uniforms to students from classes 1 to 8 in government schools across the state. This includes one set of uniform to be worn on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays and another set of scouts and guides uniforms to be worn on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. The Mahila Aarthik Vikas Mahamandal (MAVIM) – the state's women's development corporation — was given the responsibility to stitch the uniforms. Due to several issues, the uniforms were delayed and the new academic year for students in government schools began without uniforms. One of the teachers from Pune zilla parishad said, “Apart from issues with the material, it is also important to note that some students have not received appropriate sizes. In some cases, parts of uniforms are missing — like shirt pockets on scouts and guides' uniforms or drawstrings on salwar suits for girls, or dupattas. Some parents have also complained about the short length of skirts.” While the state government has already said that faulty sets will be replaced, an official from MPSP said, “It is a huge task to provide uniforms centrally, which has also given work to women in the state. More so, this is the first year of the scheme, which will be streamlined in future. All concerns raised by students and parents will be taken into consideration.”
