West Bengal Renames Sabuj Sathi As Sarathi, 12.59 Lakh Students To Get Cycles

West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Tuesday announced that 12.59 lakh students will receive bicycles this academic year under the state government's newly renamed Sarathi scheme.

Addressing a bicycle distribution programme at a school in Howrah, Adhikari said the BJP government had rechristened the previous TMC government's Sabuj Sathi scheme as Sarathi. He also alleged that the earlier administration had procured substandard bicycles for distribution among students.

The chief minister said the government would allot land for setting up a facility in Howrah to manufacture high-quality bicycles.

"As many as 12.59 lakh students will get bicycles this academic year under the Sarathi scheme," he said. Adhikari also announced that Rs 300 crore had been allocated as a composite grant for schools under the scheme.

Taking aim at the previous government, he alleged that scholarships had been provided to students of a particular community as part of what he described as "appeasement politics".

He said his government would ensure scholarships for students belonging to all communities, including Sanatani Hindus and followers of other faiths.

The chief minister further said the government would not provide the Rs 10,000 assistance for smartphones and tablets to higher secondary students, a measure followed by the previous dispensation.

Instead, he said, students would receive a higher amount to purchase learning materials. Adhikari also alleged that the Left and TMC governments had discontinued NCC programmes in schools. He said he had discussed the issue with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh.

The chief minister announced that NCC units would be revived in educational institutions to improve students' physical fitness and promote national safety. He also invoked BJP ideologue Syama Prasad Mookerjee, urging young people to remember his contribution to the creation of present-day West Bengal.