Karnataka - Mysore   

46,000 more students will ride to school this year

— FILE PHOTO: M.A. SRIRAM

No more excuses:The students will get their rides by June-end or early July.

MYSORE: Children studying in classes VIII and IX in government and aided high schools in the State will have fewer excuses to skip classes this year. Government's free bicycle scheme has resumed after a gap of one year and the students will get their rides by June-end or early July.

The Government did not distribute bicycles last year as the Special House Committee was probing into allegations of irregularities in procurement of bicycles.

With the committee giving a clean chit, the Government decided to resume its scheme, also including Class IX students this year who missed the benefit last time. .

Improving attendance

The scheme was launched with the aim of addressing the commutation problems of girl students and improve their attendance in schools. Later, boys were included too.

“In fact, the scheme was launched for girl students living in rural areas as they were finding it difficult to commute to their schools; this was resulting in their dropping out.

The scheme, subsequently, did improve attendance in schools,” said Deputy Director of Public Instruction Nagendra Kumar. Speaking to The Hindu, Mr. Kumar said he had received information that the bicycles would arrive at the district headquarters by month-end while mechanics of the company, which won the contract for providing the bicycles in Mysore division, will assemble the cycles.

“We had placed an order for about 23,000 bicycles for 2011-12. Including last year's order, a total of 46,000 bicycles will be distributed this year,” Mr. Kumar said.

Quality checks

Once the bicycles are distributed, two sample pieces — a boys' model and a girls' model — will be randomly selected and sent to Bangalore for quality check. “The cycles will be technically examined at the laboratory identified by the State authorities,” sources in the Education Department said.

“If they do not match the ones given by the company at the time of placing the bulk order, the department will initiate action,” the sources said.

A Special House Committee was set up after the then Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Council, V.S. Ugrappa, alleged that there were irregularities to the tune of Rs. 20 crore in the procurement of bicycles in 2009.

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