In a major initiative aimed at improving educational infrastructure and students’ welfare, the government is set to provide high quality uniforms, shoes, school bags and other essential items to students of government schools, Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalayas (KGBVs), BC, SC, ST and Minority residential schools, across Telangana.

Acting on the directions of Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy, for the first time, uniform fabric is being sourced from reputed manufacturers like Mafatlal, ensuring durability and better standards comparable to those available in corporate schools.

A total of 2.97 crore metres of fabric has been procured to provide two sets of uniforms to nearly 27 lakh students. Of this, Mafatlal will supply 2.41 crore metres, while the Telangana State Cooperative Society (TGSCO) will provide 55.32 lakh metres with the total spending touching ₹687.78 crore on uniforms and student kits.

Students will receive uniforms in light blue, dark blue, white, plain maroon and maroon-check patterns. Day scholars will wear light blue tops with dark blue bottoms, while residential school students will receive maroon-check tops and maroon bottoms.

The responsibility for stitching uniforms has been entrusted to women Self-Help Groups (SHGs). With a daily stitching capacity of 75,000 to one lakh uniforms, these groups will be paid ₹75 per uniform. The initiative is expected to generate more than ₹40 crore in income for women SHGs across the State.

For the first time in the State’s history, students in government schools will receive comprehensive kits that include uniforms, white shoes and socks. Earlier, footwear was provided only to students in BC residential schools.

Students of BC, SC, ST and Minority residential schools, KGBVs and Urban Residential Schools will receive complete kits comprising belts, ID cards, ties, school bags, shoes with socks, bedding material, trunk boxes, PT dress, night dress and tracksuits.

To support the handloom sector, the government has allocated 25 to 30% of uniform and bedding orders to TGSCO. These include approximately 56 lakh metres of uniform cloth, 6.49 lakh blankets, three lakh bedsheets and 2.29 lakh carpets. Similarly, the order for ties, belts and ID cards has been entrusted to the Telangana Leather Industries Promotion Corporation (TGLIPC) generating income to them.

Officials said the new centralised procurement system has been introduced to eliminate irregularities. Earlier, individual departments and residential institutions procured supplies separately.