Education Minister Kedar Kashyap was cornered in the State Assembly by the Opposition Congress members over the distribution of cash to the students in the State instead of bicycles.
The Congress members said the State Government had made financial provision to distribute bicycles to the students of under privileged communities of class nine. However instead of bicycles, large amount of money was distributed to the students.
The issue was raised by Congress member Motilal Dewangan during the question hour which was seconded by Congress members Bhupesh Baghel and Satyanarayan Sharma. Replying to the issues raised by them, Kashyap said in the education years from 2010-11 to 2013-14, a total of 1.9 lakh cycles were distributed to scheduled caste students, two lakh twenty thousand two hundred seventy five cycles to scheduled tribe students and two lakh forty nine thousand three hundred ninety six cycles to students belonging to families below poverty line .
He said in the year 2010-2011 instead of cycles twenty four thousand six hundred five girl students were given a total of six crore 64 lakh and 34 thousand rupees each with Rs 2700, he said.
The minister said the students were distributed cash as there was a possibility of delay in purchasing of bicycles in view of the election. He said complaints have not been received so far.