East civic body increases cash subsidy for school uniforms

NEWDELHI: The East Delhi Municipal Corporation (EDMC) has decided to increase cash subsidy provided to students of primary classes for the purchase of uniforms from the current academic session.

During a standing committee meeting on Thursday, the education committee shared the proposal to increase the amount from ₹500 to ₹1,100 for students of classes 1-5 .

The decision was taken on the Delhi High Court’s suggestion. “Since the matter is in court from last year and the subsidy given for uniforms is too less, the court had suggested rationalising the amount. After the court’s direction, the Delhi directorate of education filed an affidavit in March, declaring that the amount has been increased to ₹1,100,” said a senior official, education department, EDMC.

Eight months after the Delhi government implemented the decision, the EDMC’S education committee proposed to replicate the move in its schools in the next few months.

“We took some time in preparing the proposal as the education committee was not formed for the past one year. On Thursday, EDMC commissioner Ranbir Singh gave the go-ahead and we are likely to implement the proposal as soon as it gets a final approval in the house meeting,” said the official.

At present, 1.90 lakh students are studying in 376 primary schools of East Delhi Municipal Corporation.

Each student gets ₹500 once in a year to buy both summer and winter uniforms.

“We had received a similar demand from parents as well but because of the poor financial position of EDMC, it took some time to take a final decision,” said the official.

But the North and South Delhi municipal corporations have no such immediate plans.

“There were plans to increase the amount by ₹800 but the department is yet to take any decision,” said an SDMC official.