Students at government schools in MP to get free bicycles

Madhya Pradesh, around 4.5 lakh students at government schools will receive bicycles. It will be free of cost, under a scheme an official told on September 23,2024. The school education department has given the needed instructions to the district education offices regarding the same, the official added.

Under the Free Bicycle Supply Scheme, two-wheelers are provided to eligible students for study facility on first admission in class 6 and 9. In the previous year, around 4.07 lakh students under this scheme received free bicycles he said.

The scheme has specifically proved to be beneficial for female students. The ones residing in hostels, the distance from hostel to their government school is approximately two kilometres or more, the official mentioned.

Moreover, the school education department officials have been asked to pay more attention to the quality of bicycles which will be purchased for this purpose. As in past, there have been incidents where students sold off their free bicycles due to poor quality of the product.

The free bicycle scheme was launched in 2004. Most of the students could not join schools because of non-availability of schools. Initially the government provided incentive of Rs 2,400 to purchase bicycle , however in year 2016 the Government of Madhya Pradesh under the Free Cycle Distribution Scheme is providing bicycles to the eligible students. The main purpose of the facility is to provide transportation to students to travel from one village to another.

Madhya Pradesh Government will provide 18 Inch Cycle to Class 6th Student and 20 Inch Cycle to Class 9th Student. The schools will make the list of eligible students and sent it to the Madhya Pradesh Department of School Education for approval. Students do not need to submit application or fill form for availing bicycle for the same.

The initiative is to promote education and empowerment for female students.