Kerala: Rs 82 crore for Handloom Uniform Scheme

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The State Government has sanctioned Rs 82 crore as first instalment for the Handloom School Uniform Scheme to provide free uniforms to school children in government and aided schools. “Students in class I to Class V will get free uniforms from the next academic year. A year later, free uniforms will be distributed to all school children till VIIIth standard,” industry minister A.C. Moideen said in a statement here on Saturday.

The scheme, which has been designed to improve employment in the traditional handloom sector, was announced in the LDF government's first budget. “The production of school uniforms will begin in December and would be organised in in such a way that all handloom employees in the state will get employment for 300 days a year,” Mr Moideen said. He said that approximately 1.30 crore metre cloth will be manufactured in the handlooms. Over 5000 handloom employees are expected to benefit from the scheme.