The Karnataka government has ordered an independent district-level inquiry into the quality of shoes and socks distributed to government school students under the Vidya Vikas Scheme. The decision follows reports of footwear developing defects within days of distribution, including soles peeling off, stitches coming undone, and toe sections tearing. The inquiry aims to verify whether the products meet tender specifications and are suitable for students.

The department of school education and literacy has directed zilla panchayat chief executive officers to constitute inspection teams comprising officials from departments other than education, such as food and civil supplies, revenue, and women and child development. These teams will inspect at least 25% of government schools in each district, covering all taluks and clusters through stratified random sampling. They will examine stitching strength, material quality, and whether the footwear conforms to tender specifications. Spot measurements of students’ feet will also be conducted to ensure the sizes supplied match actual requirements.

Earlier, Upalokayukta Justice K N Phanindra had ordered registration of a suo motu complaint into the issue. The DSEL has now constituted a district-level inquiry committee to inspect the quality of shoes and socks distributed to students of classes 1 to 10 at government schools. The committee will be constituted by the Chief Executive Officers of zilla panchayats. The department instructed that the officials or staff chosen for the inspection committee should not be from DSEL. The committees must complete the verification within 10 days and submit the report.

Complaints included shoes tearing or soles separating within a few days of use, oversized or ill-fitting shoes, and similar defects in socks. The department has called for an independent verification, as the complaints have raised doubts over whether the shoes and socks supplied were certified by authorised agencies and whether the products supplied were certified. The teams have to verify the lot number, certification by the Footwear Design and Development Institute, and the pre-dispatch inspection certificate. Committees have to take photographs of their verification process and attach them with the report.

The government has sought field-level verification amid concerns that footwear supplied to schools may not correspond to the approved test samples. The technical quality assurance mechanism for the footwear had included institutions such as IISc Bengaluru, NITK Surathkal and Lidkar for pre-dispatch testing and monitoring. The govt has now sought field-level verification amid concerns that footwear supplied to schools may not correspond to the approved test samples.

The verification teams have been directed to inspect at least 25% of govt schools in every district, covering all taluks and clusters through stratified random sampling. They will examine the stitching strength, material used, thickness and weight of the footwear, and whether the shoes conform to tender specifications. The teams will also conduct spot measurements of students’ feet to check whether the sizes supplied correspond to actual requirements. The commissioner of school education will submit a consolidated state-level report to the govt within 10 days.

What remains unknown is the extent of the problem across the state, the specific brands or manufacturers involved, and the long-term impact on students’ health and mobility. Further details are expected as the inquiry progresses.