The school’s new dress code. Telegraph pictures

Bhubaneswar, Aug. 22: Tension prevailed at Kendriya Vidyalaya 1 here after a section of parents protested against the institution’s “dictum” to purchase and stitch new uniforms from the school itself.

The Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan, which is celebrating its golden jubilee this year, has decided to introduce new uniforms for its students. Instead of the blue and white dress, students will now wear uniforms with red, blue, white and grey checks.

However, some guardians challenged the school authorities’ notice to purchase the fabric from the school and get the clothes stitched in the school itself. Protests continued for over two hours with the parents squatting before the school shouting slogans.

“They forced us to purchase the cloth from the school, and now, they want us to get it stitched at the school. They are charging exorbitant rates for the fabric, which can be fetched for less than half the cost from the market,” said Ganesh Jena, a parent.

Kendriya Vidyalaya No. 1 at Unit-IX, Bhubaneswar

“The school has no right to decide where we get the clothes from. It’s difficult for people to buy uniforms at such rates. I have two kids studying in the school and buying new sets is quite difficult for us,” said Jyotishikha Das, another parent.

“While tailors charge Rs 200 for stitching the same uniform, the school is charging Rs 500. This is double the market rates,” said Pratima Muduli, another guardian of a student.

The school authorities, however, refuted the allegations. The National Institute of Fashion Technology designed the new uniforms and the ministry of textiles supplied them, said school principal S.K. Behura.

“The uniform has been introduced in all the Kendriya Vidyalayas across the country. The idea of asking the parents to take the fabric from school and getting them stitched here is just to ensure that there is uniformity in the clothes. Also getting it stitched here would ensure that the students get the uniforms delivered on time,” he said, adding that the new uniforms would be ready by September 10 and students could start wearing them for school shortly after their Puja holidays.

Depending on which class a child is in, parents would have to shell out Rs 1,200 to Rs 3,000 for the uniforms. The old uniforms have been in place since the inception of the institution in 1963.