Question of height makes ride bumpy for free Chhattisgarh cycles

According to the Saraswati Cycle Yojna launched in 2004-05,free cycles are distributed to Scheduled Caste,Scheduled Tribe girls when they reach Class IX. In 2007-08,OBC and BPL general category girls were included in the scheme. While 20-inch cycles were distributed earlier,the height was changed to 22 inches after a few years,reportedly following a contract with major manufacturers Atlas and Avon.

Last month,the school education department sent a note to the finance department stating,Before 2012-13,22-inch cycles were being purchased for Saraswati Cycle Yojna. In 2012-13,the (education) department constituted a committee on the demand of school girls that they be given 20-inch cycles instead of 22 inches. On the recommendation of this committee,the department decided to purchase 20-inch cycles.

According to official communication between the two departments,copies of which are with The Indian Express,Agarwal also wanted local cycle manufacturers to be roped in for the scheme while the finance department preferred Atlas and Avon. In the first half of the 2013-14 fiscal year,Rs 35.50 crore was earmarked for the scheme.

The finance department,in its reply,said,There is no rationale for the proposal. It pointed to a Chhattisgarh State Industrial Development contract with Atlas and Avon for 22-inch cycles. The selection of 20-inch cycles would deprive prestigious companies like Atlas and Avon, it said.

The education department then responded,saying the finance departments decision to decide the height of cycles according to the girls average age was irrational and prejudiced. It said even major companies like Hero decide the height of cycles not by the age of girls but by their heights.

It compared the biology of girls of Chhattisgarh,Maharashtra,Jharkhand with their counterparts in Punjab and Haryana. Biologically,Punjab girls have better physique than the girls of Chhattisgarh, it said. Stating that a 20-inch cycle was Rs 133 cheaper than a 22-inch cycle,the education department said the government would therefore save Rs 1.267 crore. Even Rajasthan,Jharkhand and Maharashtra are purchasing 20-inch cycles for similar schemes, it said.

Agarwal claimed the finance departments reply vindicated his stand that Atlas and Avon were being favoured. The finance secretary and other officers are acting as agents of these companies,accepting huge amount (of cash), said a press statement released by his office last week. The minister said the cycles should be purchased from Chhattisgarh-based manufactures to promote local industries.

The average height of Chhattisgarh girls is 4 feet 10 inches-5 feet 3 inches while Punjab girls are over 5 feet 6 inches. The finance department got some institution in Punjab to approve that Chhattisgarh girls need 22-inch cycles, said the release.

The finance department has now declared that instead of distributing cycles,cash will be transferred to the girls accounts. Pointing out that the CM had earlier opposed the UPA governments direct cash transfer for food subsidy scheme,Agrawals aide said Singh had done a U-turn to establish his superiority over his ministers.

The girls will have to purchase the cycles at a much higher rate. There is a possibility that the girls will not buy cycles and spend the cash elsewhere, said Agarwal.

Meanwhile,a finance ministry official said,The CM opposed direct cash transfers only in case of food subsidy. There is no question of taking any amount from any cycle manufactures.. they were chosen purely on merit.