India, June 16 -- Over 300,000 BMC school students who returned to classrooms on the first day of the new academic year failed to receive the free educational kits that have become a major attraction of school reopening every year. The kits contain 27 essential items such as uniforms, school bags, notebooks, shoes, umbrellas and raincoats.

According to sources, only around 20% of students received a few of the articles. While approximately 10% got umbrellas, only around 1% received notebooks, and just 2% were given uniforms. Some schools distributed leftover materials from last year to ensure that at least a few students got their supplies.

The delay is on account of the BMC shifting the procurement of school materials from the state's ...