File picture of schoolteachers in uniform

Bhubaneswar, Jan. 4: The state government has made minor changes in the existing dress code for primary teachers, particularly for woman teachers.

The teachers who are now wearing pink saris to schools will have to wear same colour saris but with black border and black anchal.

School and mass education minister Rabi Naryan Nanda said: “There has been a long demand from the teachers to use anchal in the saris as traditionally, women in Odisha prefer to wear saris with border and anchal and wearing aplain sari is considered inauspicious.”

Nanda said: “The decision of the government will not be implemented forcefully. Teachers will be given enough time to shift to this new uniform. However, they can come to school wearing the old uniform dress for now. The same rule will also be applicable to secondary class teachers, who are now wearing maroon and beige saris.”

The handloom textiles and handicrafts department has instructed the Sambalpuri Bastralaya, Boyanika and Utkalika for making the prescribed saris available.

Nanda said: “Specifications on the colour and border will be communicated to the weaver societies of the state by the handloom textile and handicraft department, along with orders to produce adequate number of saris at reasonable rates.”