In a bid to promote use of handlooms products and support weavers, Odisha government has decided to make it mandatory for women school teachers to wear sarees made by state handloom cooperative, Boyanika, a state minister said.
"Women teachers of both high school and upper primary schools will now wear Boyanika sarees from this academic session," said Handlooms, Textiles and Handicrafts Minister, Snehangini Chhuria.
She said the colour of their uniform will not change, but the materials of the saree.
The minister said this after a meeting attended by the ministers of Higher Education and School and Mass Education department.
Replying a question, the minister said that the decision was taken keeping in view the interest of weavers and empower them by providing work round the year
"Subsequently, the uniform of students will also be replaced with the same hand-woven textile materials. However, colour of the uniform will remain the same," Churia said.
Asked about the male teachers, Churia said that the decision in this regard will be taken later.