School uniforms, student kit tenders fiasco: Telangana Govt asserts due diligence followed

On the defensive after Bharat Rashtra Samiti (BRS) leaders alleged large‑scale irregularities in the supply of school uniforms and student kits for government‑run residential and welfare institutions, the Telangana Government has asserted that due diligence was followed in finalising tenders worth ₹687 crore.

While BRS leaders accused the administration of a “₹2,000 crore scam,” official records reviewed by The Hindu show that the Project Monitoring Unit (PMU) initiated procurement of student amenities for the 2026‑27 academic year across all 33 districts. Nine categories of tenders were floated on April 2, 2026, through national competitive bidding on the State’s e‑Procurement portal. A pre‑bid meeting was held on April 8, followed by a corrigendum incorporating amendments.

Officials explained that technical bids were evaluated first, with qualified bidders proceeding to the financial stage. Financial bids were opened online and assessed on an item‑wise L1 (lowest cost) basis, with negotiations conducted where necessary. In total, 27 bids were received covering uniform cloth, school bags, shoes, socks, plates, glasses, bedding material, trunk boxes, stationery kits, and other essentials.

The government stressed that the finalised tenders amounted to ₹687.78 crore, not ₹2,000 crore, and that remaining orders were entrusted exclusively to public sector corporations such as the Telangana State Handloom Weavers Cooperative Society (TGSCO), Telangana Leather Industries Promotion Corporation (TGLIPC), and Telangana Trade Promotion Corporation (TGTPC).

According to official statistics, Mafatlal Industries secured the largest share, winning contracts for uniforms cloth worth ₹298.10 crore (2.44 crore meters), of which 25% was allocated to TGSCO. The company also bagged orders for school bags, shoes, and socks valued at ₹263.47 crore, covering 11.39 lakh bags, 28.35 lakh black shoes, 7.74 lakh white shoes, and over 67 lakh pairs of socks.

World Fa Enterprises won the bid for plates, glasses, bowls, and spoons, supplying 5.10 lakh sets at ₹360 each, totaling ₹18.36 crore. Chintamani Paraswanath Enterprises was awarded the contract for trunk boxes, valued at ₹41.40 crore for 3.24 lakh units. Mafatlal also secured bedding material contract worth ₹66.42 crore, including 7.52 lakh bed sheets, 6.27 lakh carpets, and 6.62 lakh towels. Supplementary supplies worth ₹70.86 crore were allocated to TGSCO.

In the process of finalisation of the bids, several tenders were cancelled such trolley bags as no bidders qualified. Similarly, notebooks supply was given to Telangana Trade Promotion Corporation (TGTPC), while stationery kits were to be procured at district level. In addition to this, PT/night/track suits contract was given to government corporations.

Officials emphasised that government corporations were strengthened, not sidelined. TGSCO received 25–30% of uniform and bedding orders, including 6.49 lakh blankets and 56 lakh meters of cloth. TGLIPC was given all orders for belts, ties, and ID cards, while tailoring work was routed through the Government Tailors Federation, supporting nearly 14,000 women.

The government maintained that the procurement process was transparent, competitive, and aimed at ensuring quality supplies for disadvantaged students. Allegations of inflated costs or corruption, it said, were politically motivated and contradicted by official tender records.