Students in schools under minority development yet to get uniforms, shoes and socks

Over a month after schools opened for the 2026-27 academic year, the Minority Welfare Department is yet to provide uniforms, shoes, socks, bags and other stationery to the students of the schools under its jurisdiction.

Sources said that the department, which has recently supplied textbooks to the students, has not even called for tenders for the supply of uniforms, shoes, socks, bags and other stationery items despite repeated requests from the headmasters.

A total of 398 schools, including 250 Moulana Azad Model Schools, four Government Muslim Residential Schools (GMRS), 115 Morarji Desai Residential Schools (MDRS) and 29 Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam Residential Schools, are functioning under the Minority Welfare Department across the State, with more than 40,000 students studying from classes 1 to 10.

Textbooks, uniforms, shoes, socks, bags and other stationery items are distributed to these students by the Minority Welfare Department .

The School Education Department has distributed textbooks and uniforms to the students under its jurisdiction. The process of distribution of shoes and socks is in progress.

“Parents are coming to schools every day to ask for uniforms, shoes, socks and stationery to be distributed to the students. We do not have any answer to the parents’ questions. Many students are coming to school barefoot ,” said the headmaster of a Moulana Azad Model school.

Tender not yet called

Sources in the department said that the distribution of uniforms, shoes, socks and stationeries has been delayed due to the delay in giving approval by the Finance Department and the State Cabinet.

Yasmeen Begum G. Walikar, Director of Directorate of Minorities, said, “There was a delay in granting permission from the Finance Department for distributing uniforms, shoes, socks and other things to students. The State Cabinet has also given approval for this and steps have been taken to call for tenders next week. This tender process will take about 20 days to be finalised. We will distribute the items to all students within a month.”