News18 is in possession of a state government document dated April 19 inviting tenders for the purchase of several thousand ‘black’ bicycles worth Rs 133 crore for girl students. (File photo: IANS)
The Ashok Gehlot government first came up with the idea of providing cycles to girl students in the state in 2011. The Vasundhara Raje government from 2013 continued the scheme but the Congress criticized it as the BJP changed the color of the cycle. Cycle ‘Orange’
In a state where cycles given to girl students are often in the news for their ‘colour’, the Ashok Gehlot government has decided to buy cycles worth Rs 133 crore in the next three months ahead of the state elections to provide them to the students. can be distributed.
News18 is in possession of a state government document dated April 19 inviting tenders for the purchase of several thousand ‘black’ bicycles worth Rs 133 crore for girl students. The documents mention that the order must be completed within three months, which would enable the Gehlot government to deliver these bicycles before the Model Code of Conduct comes into force for the year-end elections.
The order for cycles has been hanging fire for the past few years due to the Covid pandemic, but the Congress now wants to fast-track it to appeal to voters.
Incidentally, the Gehlot government first came up with the idea of providing cycles to girl students in the state in 2011 during its first term. The Vasundhara Raje government from 2013 continued the scheme, but the Congress criticized it as the BJP changed its colour. For Cycle ‘Orange’.
Gehlot took inspiration for this idea from the Nitish Kumar government of Bihar. A senior Congress leader told News18 that the scheme became very popular and the dropout rate of girls in Rajasthan declined and the literacy rate improved.
“The scheme of free distribution of women cycles was started to improve the education of girls and their enrolment. Cycles will be distributed to all newly admitted regular girl students in class 9 of government schools as per the guidelines issued by the government,” the tender document said.
The Gehlot government had recently decided that apart from class 9, girl students of class 6 to 8 would also be given free cycles. The scope of the scheme was extended to reach more beneficiaries and their families. The Gehlot government, which is coming just before the elections, feels that this will help it retain power.
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