Assam govt's new dress code of teachers

Teachers in higher educational institutions in Assam will now be required to adhere to a formal dress code while on duty, according to a recent directive from the BJP-led state government. The notification from the Assam higher education department highlights that certain teachers have been observed wearing attire that may not align with public expectations. To address this, the government has specified that male teachers should wear proper formal shirts, pants, and traditional dhoti-pajamas. Similarly, female teachers are expected to don salwar suits, sarees, mekhela-chadors, or other traditional garments during their work hours.

The notification said that male and female teachers should wear simple, modest, and decent clothes in calm colours that don't attract attention. They were told to skip wearing casual or party outfits.The government explained that because teachers should show how to be proper and respectful, especially while working, they needed a dress code that showed respect, professionalism, and seriousness at work. People had different opinions about this rule. Some teachers support and believe that jeans and leggings aren't a part of the culture in Assam or India.

But there's another teacher who believes in personal choice. "Teachers don't wear inappropriate clothes to teach. They know what's right to wear. I don't agree with this dress code," the teacher statedThen there's another teacher who thinks the government should think about different problems that affect teachers and education. They mentioned that many college buildings are in bad condition, but the government hasn't helped with fixing or renovating them. This teacher questioned, "How do we decide if jeans and T-shirts are decent or not? Who gets to make that decision?"

A similar notification regarding the dress code was issued for school teachers in the state back in May. During that time, the state government had recommended that male teachers should wear proper formal shirts and pants, or dhoti-pajamas for their duties. In a similar way, female teachers were advised to wear respectful outfits like salwar suits, sarees, mekhela-chadors, and other traditional attire while attending their duties.