Saraswati Cycle Yojana, which was initiated by state government with objective of promoting girls' education in Chhattisgarh, have yielded upbeat results. Subsequently, the number of girl students taking admissions in High Schools and Higher Secondary Schools has significantly increased. Reason being, the bicycles distributed under the scheme have made it easier for large number of girls to reach the schools situated at distant place, informed in an official statement here on Wednesday.
Saraswati Cycle Yojana was started in year 2004-05, and till date, state government has distributed free of cost bicycles to about 7.63 lakh girl students of state. As a result, number of girls taking admission in High Schools and Higher Secondary Schools has increased from 65% to 93%. Moreover, the difference in girl-boy students' ratio of schools has also decreased considerably.
Initially Saraswati Cycle Yojana was meant only for the SC/ST girls taking admission in standard 9th. later in year 2007-08, the scheme was modified to benefit the girl students belonging to poor families of all categories. Under the scheme, School Education Department of state government distributed free of cost bicycles to 2320 girl students in year 2004-05, to 23, 264 in year 2005-06, 19,571 in year 2006-07, 32,131 in year 2007-08, 56,120 in year 2008-09, 64,446 in year 2009-10, 77, 802 in year 2010-11, 90,919 in year 2011-12, and 95,299 girl students in year 2012-13.
The scheme is also proving beneficial for the schools under School Education Department and Tribal Welfare Department. In year 2004-05, 12,108 girls of these schools were distributed free of cost bicycles. In year 2005-06, the number increased to 15,968. In year 2007-08, the number of students benefited under the scheme was 24,509. In year 2008-09, 2009-10, 2010-11 and 2011-12, 30680, 41422, 44810 and 51083 students were given bicycles respectively. In year 2012-13, 61,218 girl students were benefited under the scheme.