The Government of West Bengal officially rolled out the rebranded Sarathi Scheme, initiating the statewide distribution of free bicycles to more than twelve lakh fifty-nine thousand secondary school students across government and government-aided institutions. Senior state ministers presided over a grand launching ceremony in Howrah, personally handing over two-wheelers to hundreds of enthusiastic student beneficiaries from rural districts.
State education department officials explained that the comprehensive welfare initiative aims to eliminate commuting barriers for adolescent scholars residing in remote villages, thereby reducing dropout rates and encouraging transition to senior secondary grades. Under the revamped program guidelines, every bicycle is equipped with standardized reflective safety gear, durable tires suited for unpaved rural roads, and unique serial tracking codes to guarantee transparent delivery.
School administrators and parent-teacher associations across rural subdivisions commended the renewed distribution drive, highlighting how bicycle access fosters educational consistency, especially among female students traveling long distances to rural schools. Administrative monitors confirmed that decentralized distribution camps will be organized across all administrative blocks throughout the coming weeks.
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Sources:
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/today-india-breaking-news-live-updates-29-september-2026-ujjain-shahi-masjid-du-protests-mayawati-evm-10898418/