New Delhi: Education minister Ashish Sood Tuesday distributed bicycles to 581 Class IX girls from two govt schools in Janakpuri’s A Block under the Vidya Vahini Yojana.The beneficiaries were students of Govt Sarvodaya Kanya Vidyalaya and Govt Girls Senior Secondary School. According to govt, the scheme aims to support girls’ secondary education by providing bicycles to all 1.4 lakh Class IX students in Delhi govt schools. Nearly 18,000 girls across the city have received bicycles so far under the ongoing distribution drive.The initiative seeks to make the daily commute to school easier, safer and more convenient.Addressing students, parents and school officials, Sood said, “The initiative goes far beyond simple transportation. For me, this joy is not merely that bicycles are being given to our daughters. My joy lies in the fact that while we perhaps could not attach wings to their dreams, we have given them wheels.”He said the bicycle symbolised freedom, self-reliance and independence.“It empowers young girls to travel to school, visit nearby markets, and run errands on their own terms without having to rely on family members. I urged mothers to encourage their daughters and build confidence in their ability to ride independently,” he said.The minister also highlighted initiatives such as smart classrooms, computer and language laboratories, innovation grants and free coaching for entrance examinations. He urged students to focus on conceptual learning and aspire to secure admission to leading universities.
