Koppal: Class four boy moves Karnataka HC for second set of school uniform

Sangamesh Menasinakai / TNN / Jul 25, 2019, 05:50 IST

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A class 4 student of a government school in Koppal district has moved the Karnataka high court, demanding a second set of school uniform from the government.

Koppal: Class four boy moves Karnataka HC for second set of school uniform

Manjunath Devappa Harijan

HUBBALLI: A class 4 student of a government school in Koppal district has moved the Karnataka high court, demanding a second set of school uniform from the government.
Sources in the education department said the state government had been issuing two sets of uniform to government school students until last year under a programme, and the Centre released funds for dresses stitched for SC/ST students. The government has stopped giving students the second set amid reports of a blame game with the Centre.

Times View

The spirited fourth-grader from Koppal deserves our unequivocal praise for petitioning court for a solution which will benefit 39 lakh children enrolled in government schools. But the uncomfortable question the state, which produces some of the country’s best talent, must ask itself is: should a young boy have to mount a legal fight to get promised sets of uniforms? The Centre-state partnership, in matters of education and healthcare, can often be erratic, dictated by availability of funds. But that shouldn’t be an excuse for authorities to not fulfil poor students’ basic requirements. There should be a provision at the state level to prevent such lapses.

Manjunath Devappa Harijan, from Government Kuvempu Centenary Model Primary School in Kinnal village of Koppal district, made several unsuccessful representations to the school seeking a second set of uniform since last year.

The boy told TOI: "With great difficulty, my parents managed to get me a spare set, but they can't afford this year or every year from now on. My teachers assured me a second pair if the government distributed the uniform. That's when I asked my parents about exploring options of lodging a complaint with police over the government and school going back on its promise. Later, I learnt about public interest litigation."
The boy's father, Devappa Harijan, is a child rights activist. "Though we discussed many options, we didn't really want to pursue them in right earnest. But my son was determined - steadfast in his conviction that the judiciary will offer a solution - to take the PIL route. We agreed to his suggestion since it would help at least 39 lakh students of government schools," he said.

Education department sources said the second set of uniform used to be distributed in June-July within weeks of schools reopening after the summer break.
The school uniforms were distributed under Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan funds. HD Kumaraswamy, during a recent visit to Kalaburagi as chief minister, had said he would ask education department officials to release the second set of uniforms without delay.
Koppal deputy director of public instruction Anitha Yeragolkar pleaded ignorance about the PIL filed by the student. KG Jagadeesha, commissioner of public instruction, Bengaluru, was not available for comment.

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