Guwahati, May 10: The school uniforms provided to government schools under Samagra Shiksha Assam are facing significant scrutiny. The All Assam School Uniform Supplier Association (AASUSA) has raised concerns, alleging that the uniforms distributed to students in Classes 9 and 10 are of inferior quality. However, officials from Samagra Shiksha have indicated that they have not received any formal complaints regarding this matter.
According to AASUSA, numerous schools have returned the uniforms, claiming that the material does not meet the established guidelines. Mainuddin Ahmed, vice president of AASUSA, stated, “Several schools that received the uniforms have reported issues concerning their quality, finish, and sizing.” The organization explained that Samagra Shiksha Assam was responsible for distributing free uniforms to students from Classes 1 to 10. For Classes 1 to 8, uniforms were successfully supplied by around 1,500 local vendors across Assam by March 31, 2025, as per SSA guidelines.
For students in Classes 9 and 10, however, uniforms were outsourced to four large companies from outside Assam: M/s Sangam Industries and M/s Padamchan Milapchand Jain from Mumbai, as well as M/s Sunil Industries and M/s Kanchan Industries from Rajasthan, according to the association’s statements. Ahmed claims that many schools are still waiting for their uniforms. While students in lower classes have received theirs on time, there remains uncertainty regarding the distribution for Classes 9 and 10. “About 90% of schools have not yet received uniforms for these classes,” AASUSA noted.
When approached for comments, Kalyan Dihingia, Assistant Administrative Officer of Samagra Shiksha Assam, stated, “We have not received any formal complaints about this issue. Should there be any concerns, they will definitely be addressed.” A senior official from SSA emphasized that schools experiencing difficulties should come forward with their complaints. “There are options like withholding payments to the vendors until they deliver quality uniforms. With this matter now in the public eye, the department will investigate and take appropriate action,” he informed The Assam Tribune.
It’s crucial to note that the Association questioning the quality of the uniforms did not secure the contracts for Classes 9 and 10, escalating calls for a neutral inquiry into the situation.
Original Source: https://assamtribune.com/assam/ssa-school-uniform-distribution-under-fire-over-alleged-poor-quality-1576959
Category: Assam,Featured
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Publish Date: 2025-05-10 13:47:00
