Students say they have become more aware of dressing neatly and maintaining personal hygiene after the launch of the “Mustabu” program. | Photo Credit: Photo File
The ‘Mustabu’ initiative is playing a transformative role in shaping the attitude, appearance and self-confidence of students in state-run schools. It helped them clearly understand the importance of personal care and discipline, which enabled them to stand at par with their counterparts in corporate institutions.
The program was officially launched by Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu in December last year to bring a tangible change in the lives of students.
Previously, students rarely followed the prescribed dress code. While girls often attended school with unkempt hair and a single braid, boys lacked a uniform standard of grooming.
Orderly demeanor
However, “Mustabu” brought about a visible change. Girls now neatly braid their hair with two braids, tie ribbons and present themselves with confidence. The boys keep their hair neat, wear clean uniforms and polish their shoes regularly.
These changes reflect not only external discipline, but an internalized sense of self-esteem and pride. Most importantly, students now exude confidence and express a belief that they are “top notch.” They feel empowered to confidently interact with their private and corporate school peers.
Kishore, a student of IX. class of ZP secondary school in Kanita, confidently says: “The impact of the program is already visible. After its launch, we became more aware of how to dress neatly and observe personal hygiene.”
“Now we have a habit of washing our hands before every meal,” says Kameswari, another student from the same class.
Senior students also took responsibility for guiding their juniors to adhere to prescribed dress and grooming rules, promoting a sense of collective discipline and peer support in the school environment.
Sravani of class IX and Kalyani of class VIII, who hail from the lower middle classes, note that financial constraints prevented them from maintaining perfect behavior. “With the support provided through the program, we now have access to basic body care materials,” they say.
Students also noted a positive change in how their private school peers perceived and interacted with them, citing better respect for their appearance and behavior.
A lasting impression
School principal V. Narasimha Rao takes a similar view. “There is more awareness about uniforms, cleanliness and discipline. Students are more confident and responsible. This initiative is expected to create a lasting impression on government schools in the future,” he says.
Another important feature of the program, as the students point out, is making sure they get adjusted on school premises if they can’t do it at home.
“Mustabu” not only improves the physical appearance of the students but inculcates self-confidence and discipline, which stakeholders say are essential for the holistic development of the students.
(The author, Gouthami Paltati, is an intern at The Hindu.)
Published – 03 Jan 2026 20:01 IST
