Promoting khadi as school uniform for lakhs of students in Uttar Pradesh

Khadi fabric will be used for making Government school uniforms in the state of Uttar Pradesh.

The scheme, recently launched for 14 districts of the state as a pilot project, is now picking up. Along with the promotion of khadi, this initiative of the State Government is also benefitting a lot of women tailors as they are making uniforms in their SHG (Self Help Group).

Importantly, lakhs of students in Uttar Pradesh’s Government schools will get 2 sets of uniforms.

There will be 67 per cent cotton and 33 per cent polyester in the fabric for uniforms. Last year, Khadi and Village Industries Board (KVIB) had supplied uniforms for some schools and now more schools are being covered under this initiative.

As per Sarvendra Vikram Bahadur Singh, basic education director, Uttar Pradesh, the education department has approached UP Khadi and Gram Udyog Board and Uttar Pradesh Industrial Cooperative Association Limited (UPICA).

The Government may apply this scheme in the entire state, depending on the results of this pilot project.

Meanwhile, the State Government has also issued Rs. 686 crore for school uniforms (to be distributed free), which is 75 per cent of the total cost of uniforms across the states.