Students in Kodagu wait for uniforms, cycles

DDPI says tender has been floated for the purpose

 Even as a month of the new academic year has gone by, students studying in government and aided schools have not yet received uniforms and bicycles announced by the state government.

The officials of the Department of Public Instruction said they have given indent for bicycles and uniforms and added that they have no idea when the uniforms will be distributed to the students.

The government distributes uniforms to students studying in Class 1 to 10 in government and aided schools. A total of 34,265 schoolchildren are waiting for uniforms.

Free bicycles are distributed to the students Class 8. As many as 1,570 children in Madikeri taluk, 1,725 students in Somwarpet taluk and 1,454 students in Virajpet taluk are waiting for bicycles.

DDPI’s reaction

When contacted, Deputy Director of Public Instruction (DDPI)  G R Basavaraj said textbooks have been distributed to the students on the day of schol reopening.

“A total of 3,56,518 textbooks have been distributed. There is no problem in the supply of textbooks. A state-level tender has been invited for the distribution of bicycles and uniforms. We have already given the list of students to the authorities,” he added.

Ravi Nanaiah, a parent, questioned, “All the facilities should be given to the students when the school reopens. What is the use of distributing bocycles and uniforms after several months?”