A pilot project has been launched to provide locally manufactured, high-quality school shoes instead of vouchers currently issued to students in schools with fewer than 250 students.
The initiative was discussed today at the Ministry of Industries and Entrepreneurship Development under the aegis of the subject minister, Sunil Handunneththi.
Under the pilot phase, 145,723 students from 1,266 schools in the Western and Southern Provinces will receive locally made shoes.
Local manufacturers have agreed to supply pairs of standard-quality shoes with a one-year warranty at a cost of Rs. 2,100 per pair, enabling the government to save nearly Rs. 140 million. The savings will be used to provide shoes to an additional 62,481 students in the two provinces.
Only registered local footwear manufacturers will be selected as suppliers. They have also agreed to visit schools directly to provide shoes in the correct sizes for students.
The meeting was attended by Ministry Secretary Thilaka Jayasundara, senior officials of the Industries and Education Ministries, the Chairman of the Advisory Committee on Domestic Product Manufacturing, and representatives of local footwear companies. (Newswire)
