Archive · 7 Sep 2026
Dharwad Students Report Shoes Tearing Within Week, Raising Concerns
The government gives free shoes and socks to children in government schools.
In Dharwad, some students said their new shoes tore after about a week.
The shoes were given nearly three months after the school year started.
Parents are worried because the footwear is paid for with government money.
They say children are having to attend school in damaged shoes.
In earlier years, schools and local suppliers handled the purchases.
Parents believe the newer buying system may have caused quality problems.
The report does not include a response from government officials.
Free shoes distributed to government school students in Dharwad reportedly began tearing within a week.
Parents questioned the quality of footwear supplied through the state government’s shoe and sock scheme.
Students received the shoes and socks nearly three months after the academic year began.
The government spends crores of rupees annually on footwear for government school children.
Parents alleged that changes in procurement may have contributed to this year’s quality concerns.
- Who
- Government school students in Dharwad, their parents, schools, and the state government’s footwear scheme.
- What
- Recently distributed free shoes reportedly tore within a week, prompting concerns about footwear quality.
- When
- The footwear was distributed recently, nearly three months after the academic year began; some shoes reportedly tore within a week.
- Where
- Government schools in Dharwad.
- Why
- Parents questioned the footwear’s quality and alleged that changes to the procurement system may have contributed to the problem.
- Affected students
- Students in government schools in Dharwad
- Reported problem
- Shoes reportedly began tearing within a week of use
- Distribution timing
- Shoes and socks were distributed nearly three months after the academic year began
- Government spending
- The government spends crores of rupees annually on the programme
- Earlier procurement system
- School development committees and headmasters largely handled purchases and distribution until last year
- Earlier supplier requirements
- Local vendors needed at least three years of experience and GST registration
- Main concern
- Parents questioned whether the changed procurement system contributed to poorer quality