Guwahati, June 27 (IANS) Assam Education Minister Ranoj Pegu on Saturday said that the state government follows strict specifications while procuring school uniforms and conducts laboratory tests to ensure that the polyester and cotton composition adheres to prescribed standards.

Responding to allegations regarding the excessive use of polyester in government-supplied school uniforms, Pegu told reporters in Sivasagar that the uniforms are procured as per government guidelines and that random samples are tested to verify their quality.

“The specifications clearly mention the required polyester and cotton composition. We conduct laboratory tests on randomly collected samples from schools to check whether the fabric meets the prescribed standards,” the minister said.

He said that suppliers found violating the norms are issued notices and that appropriate action is taken against them.

Pegu clarified that the government does not permit the supply of uniforms made entirely of polyester.

“We have prohibited 100 per cent polyester uniforms. The specifications require around 30 per cent cotton in the fabric, and this is verified through laboratory testing,” he said.

The minister said that earlier the prescribed cotton content was around 30 per cent and that the procurement process continues to follow approved standards for blended fabric.

Referring to concerns raised by some experts over the health impact of polyester, Pegu said the issue should be viewed in perspective.

“Today, many garments available in the market contain polyester blends. It is not correct to say that every polyester fabric is harmful. The important issue is whether the prescribed blend of cotton and polyester has been maintained,” he said.

Pegu maintained that if any school receives uniforms that do not meet the prescribed specifications, the government is prepared to investigate the matter.

“If anyone points out a particular school where the polyester content exceeds the prescribed limit, we will immediately conduct a verification. We are already carrying out random testing of uniforms supplied to educational institutions,” he added.

The minister asserted that the state government remains committed to ensuring quality standards in school uniforms supplied under its welfare programmes.

–IANS

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