Odisha primary school ID cards, uniforms get a makeover

The Odisha government changed the identity (ID) card and uniform colours for primary school students across the State. With saffron replacing green and a fresh slogan added, the School and Mass Education Department decision has triggered political controversy.

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According to sources, the School and Mass Education (S&ME) department has introduced changes in the identity cards, uniforms, and caps for primary school students in Odisha. The new identity card colour will now be saffron, replacing the previous green, and will display a new slogan: ‘Bidyabanta Bidyarthi, Bikashita Odisha’.

Previously, the ID cards carried the slogan ‘Ame Gadhibu Nua Odisha’.

Along with the updated slogan, the new cards will include essential student details like class, date of birth, roll number, phone number, and blood group. Wearing the ID card will now be mandatory on school campuses.

In terms of uniform, the house colours remain unchanged. Students will continue wearing blue track pants, while the t-shirts will be in yellow, green, red, and blue, depending on house affiliation. The white caps will feature the new slogan and logo.

While the uniform colour scheme has largely been retained, the introduction of saffron ID cards has drawn sharp political responses. Critics allege that the colour shift signals a political motive and reflects attempts to align education with certain ideological symbols.

“Parents expect a bright future for their children. A mean-mindedness is being instilled into their (students’) minds by changing the colours of their caps and books, etc. Even the colour of the ID card’s strap has been changed,” BJD leader, Prasanta Kumar Muduli, said.

Reacting to this, BJP MLA Purna Chandra Sethy expressed, “Opposition parties will obviously oppose everything. They (BJD) had been using green colour in everything (all government schemes) during their rule. Was green prevailing beforehand?”

The department has not issued an official response to the political reactions yet.

However, school authorities across the State have begun implementing the changes in preparation for the new academic session.