New Delhi: The Lucknow Bench of Allahabad High Court (HC) Wednesday rapped the Yogi Adityanath government of Uttar Pradesh for distributing inferior quality of shoes and socks in government schools.
The Bench questioned the tendering process of procuring shoes and socks for the students. The government has been asked to submit all tender-related documents to the Court before April 11.
“We have taken cognisance of the news reports that inferior quality of shoes and socks were distributed among school students in Uttar Pradesh. The matter needs to be dealt with strictness,” the Bench, comprising Justices Vikram Nath and Abdul Moin, said.
The court said the Bharatiya Janata Party government wasted the tax payers’ money by procuring such stock. “A scheme worth Rs266 crore (Rs2.6 billion, Dh146.8 million) for distribution of shoes and Rs10 million for giving socks to 5.4 million students was ruined because of the laxity of the officers. The officers have wasted taxpayers’ money and now accountability should be fixed,” the Bench said.
The Court said that the subsidised expense of shoes for a student was Rs135.47, while for socks it was Rs21.85, but the shoes and socks wore out within a few months of distribution.
“This raises questions on the quality of the shoes and socks that were provided on such a large scale in the schools across Uttar Pradesh,” the court observed. The matter has been listed for next hearing on April 11.
Reacting to the development, state Basic Education Minister Anupama Jaiswal sought a report from all Basic Shiksha Adhikaris (education officers) in all districts. “I have sought a detailed report from all concerned officers about the quality of shoes and socks distributed in the schools. If there is a lapse anywhere, suitable action will be taken,” Jaiswal said.
She said the government decided last October to distribute shoes and socks to students from Grade 1 to 12 in all government schools.
