Bhubaneswar: Odisha government is considering to give shoes to schoolchildren and an announcement is likely to be made by chief minister Naveen Patnaik on Children's Day on November 14.

The state government is going to take the decision basing on recommendation of the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR).

The NCPCR in its letter to the state government has said shoes were an essential wear that give dignity and confidence to children.

"We are analysing the budgetary provision required to provide shoes to children. Now we are only providing uniforms to the schoolchildren under Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan and also bicycles to Class IX students. We are also giving them mid-day meal and books free of cost. At the state-level Children's Day celebration an announcement to this effect is likely to be made," said a senior Odisha government official.

NCPCR chairperson Stuti Kacker in a letter to chief secretary Aditya Prasad Padhi said: "It is also observed that some of the children do wear shoes in government schools as their parents feel the importance of it and also have the resources to purchase them, However, children from families without resources attend without shoes and may feel humiliated."

The NCPCR also observed that though the uniform is one of the entitlements of the children, they were not getting it in full in the absence of shoes.

"The commission while redressing the complaints in relation to the violation of the Rights to Education Act, 2009, and interactions with the children during visits and other forums has noted that children are asking for shoes as entitlements that are not provided to them in the schools," the commissioner said.

The commissioner further cited that under Section(d) of the sub-section 4 of the RTE Rules, 2010, uniform is one of the entitlements and facilities.

"However, while examining the implementation of the provision, it is observed that shoes are not considered as part of the uniform," the commissioner said.