Tthe State Government this year had decided to give the amount directly to the students for purchase of cycle changing the previous practice of giving them cycles purchased by the Government. For this purpose the amounts were sent to district welfare offices. Hazaribagh district welfare office received an amount of `6 crores 40 lakhs and 14 thousands in this head.
In the month of September district welfare office distributed this amount among 20480 selected students of schedule cast, schedule tribe, minority and backward classes. `3000 was transferred in each student bank accounts linked with their unique identity numbers. Till then the department is waiting for purchase receipts which are required for submitting utilisation certificate.
Not a single student, school or guardian has submitted the purchase receipt in the district welfare office yet. None is in a position to say that the beneficiaries have purchased cycles or not. It has raised a question mark on the changed policy of the State Government.
Actually the Government has changed the policy because of regular complaints of student and guardians that the cycles provided were of inferior quality. This time the Government instead of providing cycle decided to give `3000 to each student for this purpose with a condition that they will have to purchase standard ISI marked cycle of their choice and will have to submit its receipt. The student or his/her guardian will have to pay the amount above `3000.
When The Pioneer enquired about this matter it was told that it is not only the story of Hazaribagh district. Same is the story of almost all districts of the State. Thus the secretary of welfare department Rajeev Arun Ekka has taken it seriously and directed the district officials to arrange special camps in every block with the help of local cycle dealers to ensure proper utilisation of the amount. If the student will not purchase cycle then the Government will take back the amount with fine and action will be taken against the guardian.