Opposition Sees ‘Politics’ In Odisha Govt’s Decision To Change High School Uniforms To Green

Bhubaneswar: The BJD government’s plan to introduce a new dress code for Class IX and X students in Odisha has triggered a controversy with Opposition parties questioning the choice of colour for the uniforms, which they allege is aimed at influencing the minds of students and parents since the ruling party identifies with it.

The advisory issued on Tuesday mentioned that boys and girls in all government and government-aided high schools will be provided with white and hunter green shirts in stripes and a green coloured blazer and pant respectively under Mukhymantri Chhatra Chatri Paridhan Yojana. The Directorate of Secondary Education has directed all collectors to complete procurement and distribution by July 15. Previously, the uniforms were of blue and white colours for both boys and girls and they were free for students of elementary grades.

BJP leader and MP from Bhubaneswar Aparajita Sarangi questioned the sudden decision to change the colour of uniform to green without consulting others. “It has chosen to influence the minds of young kids and their parents. Instead of such superficial changes, the government should have taken steps to improve the deteriorating quality of secondary education,” she told the media.

BJP MLA from Dhamnagar Suryabanshi Suraj also took to Twitter and asked: “By taking such measures, is the state government not indirectly drawing schoolchildren towards party ideology?”  To drive home the point, he wrote about coating schools with green colour, which resembles the official colour of the ruling party, and use of green ribbons and ‘gamcha’ by students to welcome 5T secretary VK Pandian during his whirlwind Odisha tour.

He also questioned the use of the sticker of ‘‘Ame Gadhibu Nua Odisha’ (We Will Build New Odisha) on the uniforms while expressing fear that ‘Naveen’ may soon replace ‘Nua’. “The colour of the Ashoka Chakra in the national flag is blue. According to Babasaheb Ambedkar, this colour denotes equality, clarity and wisdom. These elements are important in the temple of education. So, what was the need to change the uniforms from blue to green?” he further asked.

He also mentioned about Odisha’s low grades in the Performance Grading Index while stressing the need to fix the mess in the education sector in the state.

The MLA said that Odisha receives an annual grant of Rs. 240 crores for the school uniform under ‘Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan’. “Now, the central funds are being diverted to Mukhymantri Chhatra Chatri Paridhan Yojana,” he alleged, while accusing the BJD government of hijacking central schemes and implementing them as its own.

Bijay Kumar Patnaik, former chief secretary and Odisha Congress campaign committee chairman, said the state government should have thought twice before using green as it has political connotations. “The ruling party is largely identified with green colour, and therefore, the government should have kept schools above petty politics. Instead of concentrating on their education, it is treating them as future voters,” he added.

Notably, the BJD’s flag colour is green and the ruling dispensation has earlier been accused of using the colour in different ways, including in infrastructure projects, to apparently promote its cause. Aparajita had also recently objected to use of the green colour on stage and on the ceilings in different districts when Pandian addressed gatherings.