No ‘Cycle Bhagya’ for children

Following allegations that poor quality cycles have been supplied to N R Pura taluk, the bicycles that were to be distributed free of cost to class 8 students of government and aided schools have not yet been distributed.

The bicycles have been neatly kept at a school ground.

The company that had won the tender for the supply of bicycles in N R Pura and Koppa taluks had supplied 1,120 bicycles two months ago. The bicycles have been kept at Echikere Government Higher Primary School grounds and a security guard is guarding the cycles.

The bicycles had to be distributed to 590 students of 14 high schools in N R Pura taluk. Bicycles were distributed to some students in September in the district.

Following the complaint to the chief minister on the poor quality of bicycles, the distribution of bicycles has been kept on hold by the commissioner of the Department of Public Instruction through his order dated November 28.

The bicycles should have been distributed among the students in the month of June, at the beginning of the academic year. Furthermore, the bicycles kept on the school ground are posing a hindrance for the students while playing.

Block Education Officer P Nagaraj said, “The distribution of bicycles has been withheld following the direction of the commissioner. Divisional-level and district-level committees have been constituted to verify the quality of bicycles. The committee will submit a report to the government.”

The security guard guarding the bicycles said, “The authorities are waiting for the government’s order for distribution. The authorities had shown this ground for keeping the bicycles.”

Many parents said that the committee should submit a report on the quality of bicycles at the earliest to ensure that the bicycles are distributed before the end of the academic year.