The West Bengal government has selected 80 lakh primary students from the state who will be provided free school shoes under a Rs 154 crore-project.
"Ten companies have been shortlisted through e-tendering process. Out of them one will get the order. We will also have to utilise small scale industry units of the government to do the work," Education Minister Partho Chatterjee said.
A seven-member committee led by school education secretary Arnab Roy has been formed to implement the scheme, he said adding that the distribution of shoes to the students of classes I to IV will begin from the end of this month.
Currently textbooks are being distributed free of cost to all students of recognized primary schools up to Class V and free school dress is being provided to girl students of primary schools.
The minister also said now they have made it mandatory for all those appearing for West Bengal School Service Commission examination for a teacher's job to clear B.Ed examination.
"They will also have to be an honours graduate with 50 per cent marks," Chatterjee said.
