Day 1: 14,43 Class IX students from across district take part in cycle mela

On Monday, the Education Department held a two-day "Meri Cycle Meri Pasand" event at Shaheed Bhagat Singh Sports Complex. As many as 1,443 Class IX students from across the district participated, booking their preferred cycles for future use. However, the students will only receive their cycles once the required funds reach the schools from the headquarters.

This is part of a recurring issue—the budget for the cycle mela has not been received in the last two years, leaving students without the cycles they chose.

The event saw participation from 10 different cycle dealers, offering cycles ranging from Rs 3,500 to Rs 10,000. Most students chose cycles in the Rs 3,500 to Rs 5,500 range, with 1,430 students selecting 22-inch cycles and 13 opting for 20-inch cycles.

The total demand for the 1,443 cycles from the first day comes to Rs 47,59,300, which is to be sent to the headquarters for approval. Only after the budget is received will the students get their cycles.

The second day of the mela on Tuesday will see Class XI students participating, with many preferring more expensive models, while their parents insist on more affordable options. The Education Department has allocated Rs 3,100 for 20-inch cycles and Rs 3,300 for 22-inch cycles, including GST. The parents will need to cover any additional costs for higher-priced models.

Despite repeated reminders, the cycle scheme, which aims at helping underprivileged students, has been delayed for years. Students from the Scheduled Caste category have already selected 6,778 cycles over the past two years, but not a single cycle has been delivered yet, leaving many students—some who have already completed school—without the support they were promised.

Nodal officer Anil Kumar confirmed that on the first day of the two-day cycle mela, 1,443 students selected their cycles. The demand for the selected cycles, amounting to Rs 47,59,300, will now be sent to the headquarters for the necessary budget allocation. However, without the funds, the distribution will remain uncertain.