Teachers of primary schools in their new uniforms. Pictures by Sanjib Mukherjee

Bhubaneswar, Aug. 5: The authorities may have decided to implement a new dress code for teachers from August 15, but school teachers in the capital turned up in their new uniforms today.

Since the state govern ment implemented the new rule, the price of pink saris and black blouses has gone through the roof.

While male teachers wore black trousers and sky blue shirts, lady teachers were seen in pink saris and black blouses, as prescribed by the government.

The teachers had responded to the request made by the district inspector of schools that the teachers of the capital must lead by example for their counterparts in other cities.

“From today onwards, we will come to school wearing the uniform,” said Kamalini Brahma, the headmistress of E colony-Primary School near Stewart School in Unit-VIII.

“The sudden demand for pink saris has pushed up the prices of saris of that colour. Shops don’t seem to have a large number of such saris either. Chiffon saris, which used to be available for Rs 150 in the market, are now being sold for Rs 300,” said a teacher.

Teachers have been going from shop to shop to buy their new uniforms.

“The saris are now available in three reputed dress houses in the Market Building in Unit II,” a teacher said.

“The price of black coloured blouses has gone up from Rs 35 to Rs 55,” said another school teacher.

Some teachers were upset that superior quality pink saris were not available.

“Cotton and Italian cotton saris in pink are not available in the market, forcing the teachers to buy chiffon saris,” said Kamalini.

A leading departmental store sold nearly 1,000 saris yesterday. “Now, we have a low stock of these saris. We are now left with only seven saris,” said a salesman.

Another shop owner said that he had already placed orders for good quality pink saris. It would take another three days for saris to arrive, he said, adding that they would be priced at Rs 400 per sari.

The male teachers, however, are not finding it difficult to arrange for their new uniforms.

In the first phase, primary and upper primary (from Class to I to Class VIII) school teachers would wear the uniforms. There are nearly 10,000 lower and upper primary school teachers in Bhubaneswar, Cuttack and Berhampur.

The district inspector of the school, Kulamani Nathsharma, said most of the school teachers came to the institutes wearing the uniform today.

“Though it is not mandatory, all teachers would come to schools wearing uniforms on August 15,” Nathsharma added. Some teachers felt that the government should allow saris with borders. “The government should allow lady teachers to have a border on their saris,” said Namita Swain, a school teacher of Unit VIII Delta Colony Upper Primary School.

“If we buy at least four good quality saris, it would cost us nearly Rs 2,500 and we are not in a position to spe nd such a huge amount,” said a teacher.