JAIPUR: Politics of colour is back in the education department. Rajasthan education minister Madan Dilawar said on Tuesday that the colour of bicycles being distributed to girls in govt schools will again be changed to saffron from black. Dilawar said that earlier saffron-coloured cycles were distributed, but the previous Congress govt had changed it to black.
“There is no specific purpose behind changing the colour of the bicycle.Before the tenure of the Congress govt, when there was a BJP govt in Rajasthan, even then the colour of the bicycle was saffron. Congress changed it to black. Saffron colour is the symbol of valour and bravery. When the country became independent, patriots used to wear this colour and revolt. With this thought in mind, we have decided to change the colour of the cycle to saffron,” said Dilawar.
The state govt distributes cycles to female students of Class 9. The free cycle scheme was started in 2009 to promote education of girls in Rajasthan as many students drop out in Class 9 due to lack of transportation. Over 7 lakh female students are eligible to get a free bicycle from the education department. The state also provides a travel allowance to girls who stay within a three to five-km radius of the school based on their daily attendance.
Dilawar also said that computer tablets will be distributed to 55,800 children in the state on Thursday, Teacher’s Day, at a state-level felicitation programme by chief minister Bhajan Lal Sharma.