Bhubaneswar, March 28: In a bid to avoid last year’s delays, the School and Mass Education Department has directed that distribution of school uniforms be completed before the summer vacation. The process will be closely monitored by District Collectors and District Education Officers to ensure timely implementation.

The directive comes following a letter issued by the department secretary to all district collectors. School and Mass Education Minister Nityananda Gond warned that strict action would be taken against officials if the guidelines are not followed properly.

According to the minister, advance measures have already been initiated to streamline the distribution process. Uniforms will be stitched using quality fabric and supplied to students within the stipulated timeframe. Authorities have been instructed to prepare in advance by collecting students’ measurements, finalising required quantities, and selecting agencies for stitching.

The department has stressed that no student should be left out of the distribution process. Special attention will be given to maintaining quality standards in both fabric and stitching. The entire process will be supervised directly by district-level officials.

To ensure smooth execution, regular review meetings will be conducted and progress data will be collected. In case of delays or complaints regarding poor-quality uniforms, immediate corrective measures and action will be taken. Reports on the progress will be submitted to OSEPA and the department every 14 days.

Notably, during the 2025–26 academic year, uniform distribution was delayed in several schools, with many students not receiving uniforms even by the end of the session. The latest directives aim to prevent a repeat of such lapses.