Rs 4.13cr loss to eschequer in supply of free school uniforms

CHENNAI: A report by the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) has revealed that the Tamil Nadu government incurred a wasteful expenditure of Rs 4.13 crore in supplying free uniforms to 31,152 students in the 72 schools sampled. Further, free uniforms costing Rs 2.25 crore, supplied to 21,086 students in sampled 49 schools, are barely used.

The State government has been supplying four sets of free uniforms every year to government and aided schools. These uniforms are provided to students between classes 1 and 8, enrolled under the National Meal Programme (NMP) and are hence eligible for free uniforms also.

However, in 2022-23 academic year, of the total strength of 47.89 lakh students, 38.41 lakh (80 per cent) were enrolled under NMP. And the TN government incurred an average of Rs 409.63 crore per annum under the scheme between 2018-21.

The audit scrutiny was done at 241 out of 1,425 aided schools in four districts such as Chennai, Vellore, Kancheepuram and Thoothukudi during October and November, 2021.

It was found that in 48 out of 66 aided schools sampled in Chennai, students were not wearing free uniforms, as the school management has prescribed different colour and design. Further, in 13 other aided schools, the students wore the free uniform only one to three days a week (on remaining days wore the uniforms prescribed by the school).

Subsequently, in the case of remaining three districts, free uniforms were not utilised in 24 out of 148 sampled aided schools and in 36 schools, students were wearing free uniforms only on certain days of the week.

Incidentally, the audit calculated that the cost of uniforms supplied during 2019-21 to 72 aided schools in the sampled district, where students wearing a different uniform all through the week, was Rs 4.13 crore. Additionally, the uniform cost supplied during 2019-21 to the sample 49 GA schools were students wore uniforms on select days was Rs 2.25 crore.

Noting the loss, the audit committee recommended the State government to revisit the scheme guidelines and issue free uniforms only to students of schools which furnish specific indents for free uniforms. Also, consider reducing the number of sets of uniforms to students of schools that allow wearing free uniforms only on one of the three days per week.