Free school uniform in Himachal schools from May

Shimla : The Himachal Pradesh government is set to distribute free school uniforms to all government school children from May 9 .

This was announced by the state chief minister P.K.Dhumal Thursday in Hamirpur .

The proposed free uniform plan has been named ‘Atal school uniform scheme’  after former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee .

“Free uniform will be provided twice to all government school students in the state . First at the time of admission and second in October every academic session ,” Dhumal said .

This populist step by the government is expected to benefit 10.5 lakh students studying from class 1 to class 10 .

Himachal Pradesh has one the highest literacy rates in the country .

The scheme was to have been launched in April . Assembly polls are scheduled late this year in the hill state .