WB govt sanctions  ₹154 cr for free school shoes
The West Bengal government has sanctioned ₹154 crore to distribute shoes free of cost to government school students between classes I to IV. State Education Minister Partha Chatterjee said, "The initiative will attract more students and prevent school dropouts." The announcement was made after Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee met a group of primary school children, many of whom were barefoot.