Long faces over short saris — IA in a knot

NEW DELHI, NOVEMBER 24: Indian Airlines' air hostesses have a grievance that's a few yards long. Over a month beyond the deadline of Octob...

NEW DELHI, NOVEMBER 24: Indian Airlines’ air hostesses have a grievance that’s a few yards long. Over a month beyond the deadline of October 1 when they were supposed to wear a new set of saris given to them under a new dress code, few are willing to be seen in them. They are short, flimsy and not distinct enough are some of the complaints.

The new saris were designed by the National Institute of Fashion Technology for the 1000 crew members after the IA management got serious about the challenge from private players. With most of the air

hostesses turning away from the new lot, the dress code will probably have to wait till December 1. The IA Cabin Crew Association has referred the complaints to the management which is now grappling with the problem.

The saris — at least four in the set of eight given to them — apparently do not go the entire length. “They are short by 10-12 centimetres and that shows on tall air hostesses,” one air hostess complained (The standard length is 5.75 metres). Khadi Gram Udyog (grey saris) and Lepakshi (sky-blue saris) have printed four each and it’s the former lot that’s the source of trouble. The air hostesses get eight saris every alternate year.

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Khadi officials, however, deny that their saris are not up to the IA standards. They wash their hands off the controversy by saying that “our contract with IA ended a year ago and we don’t deal with them anymore.”

The crew also complains that the stuff is inferior in quality. “We are required to wear saris six times a week and we expect these to withstand the rigours of our job,” said a senior air hostess.

What’s worse — if the air hostesses are to be believed — you may just not notice them in the plane if they put these saris on. They have been designed in such a manner that they blend with the blue and grey interiors of the IA plane instead of standing out in contrast. “There is nothing to distinguish us from the seats in the plane which are also of the same colour,” an air hostess complained.