Daijiworld Media Network – Bangalore (MS)

Bangalore, July 10: The BJP state government has faced harsh criticism from opposition parties over its refusal to provide shoes and socks to public school students, prompting the government to announce the release of funds. But it seems this was only done to throw mud in the eyes of opposition parties and not for the real benefit of public school students.

The government has issued an order and released funds of Rs 132 crore for the purchase of shoes and socks for students studying in grades one to ten in public schools. However, the price quoted per student is the same as it was quoted five years ago. The order, which appears to have been hastily issued to silence opposition parties, has prompted public school teachers to solicit donations from private organizations and philanthropists to make up the shortfall.

The government order also states that if public schools can obtain donations from philanthropists and other social organizations, then the school can purchase quality shoes and socks for its students. It’s like literally asking public school teachers to beg for contributions from corporate donors.

The BJP government which is making one mistake after another in administrative decision-making has made another mistake in its order to buy shoes and socks.

He had previously issued an order in which government-run schools were asked to seek help from donors to have study improvement sheets photocopied. Later it was withdrawn after opposition parties cried foul.

Over the past five years, the prices of raw materials for shoes and socks in addition to gasoline and diesel have increased several times. In such a context, quoting a rate that existed five years ago shows the state government’s inept governance causing public school teachers to become frustrated.

In 2019, the BJP government had asked public schools to provide quality shoes and socks for students of the country’s prestigious companies like Bata, Liberty, Lancer, Paragon, Corona, Action and Lakani. However, in the order of 2022, there is no mention of branded products.
On the open market, a pair of shoes costs Rs 425. This means that there is a shortfall of Rs 160 per student in state government scholarships.

In 2017-2018, the then government released grants of Rs 129.84 crore for the same cause. It seems that the current BJP regime has copied the same without considering the current market rates.

Now public school teachers have to run after donors to make up the shortfall in the amount needed to provide good quality shoes and socks to students.