Tamil Nadu government has decided to launch a new Free Shoes Scheme 2019 for students in government schools. Now all the students studying in Class VI to XII in government schools will get shoes instead of chappals this year. Tamil Nadu Free Shoes Scheme would be implemented by the department of school education with an outlay of Rs. 81.5 crore.

The Tamil Nadu government is already distributing 14 free items (including laptops) to students studying in government and government-aided schools. From 2019, the state government has also brought a new dress code for students in government. schools.

The primary focus of Tamil Nadu Free School Shoes Scheme is on improving the quality of education and to encourage people to send their children to schools.

Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswamy has already issued orders to provide free shoes to government school students. All the class 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th students who are studying in government-run schools will get free shoes in this scheme. For the current academic year 2019-20, the state government has allocated Rs. 81.5 crore for Tamil Nadu Free Shoes Scheme 2019.

Currently, the state government of Tamil Nadu is providing free footwear to around 58 lakh students studying in class I to X. The school education department has sent a proposal to the Tamil Nadu government to provide shoes instead of chappals. The details of cost and other expenses would be ascertained only from the issued order from the government.