Jharakhand to give free bicycles to school girls

The state government has decided to unveil the project soon with a view to curbing dropout rates among girls

Ranchi: All the girls studying in the government schools up to Class eight will be getting bicycles free of cost.

The state government has decided to unveil the project soon with a view to curbing dropout rates among girls.

Notably, the scheme for free distribution of bicycles among girl students was launched by the state government some five years ago. However, it was earlier confined to the ST/SC candidates.

The decision to include the rest of the categories was taken following the review meeting of the Human Resources Development (HRD) department chaired by chief minister Arjun Munda and attended among others by HRD minister Baidyanath Ram and chief secretary AK Singh.

It should also be noted that the scheme was earlier under the department of welfare. Henceforth, the same would be monitored and carried on by the HRD department. The meeting also decided to upgrade all the middle schools to high schools.

The Chief Minister asked the department officials and minister concerned to ensure opening of one plus two school in each block of the state. Munda also emphasized on immediate implementation of Right to Education Act.

The review meeting also stressed on student retention in primary and secondary schools, checking dropout rates, introduction of result oriented schemes and formation of proper monitoring committees at village level.

Munda was very specific about disbursement of monthly payment to teaching and non-teaching staff members by the first week of every month. No laxity on this count, the chief minister warned, would be tolerated.