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CM's Big Announcement: Cycles for Class 8 Students Under 'Sarathi' Program, Aid Increased
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News18•29-09-2026, 14:57
CM's Big Announcement: Cycles for Class 8 Students Under 'Sarathi' Program, Aid Increased
- •Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari officially launched the 'Sarathi' program, aiming to distribute cycles to 12.59 lakh students by FY 2026-27.
- •The 'Sabuj Sathi' project is renamed 'Sarathi'; cycles will be provided to eighth-grade students from the next academic year.
- •A three-tier system adopted to improve cycle quality, ensuring safe use even on bad roads.
- •CM announced land and contractual purchase agreements for cycle factories in West Bengal; 800 smart schools planned.
- •Financial assistance for students to increase from 1,000 rupees to 2,000 rupees by 2027, as announced on Kanyaratna Day.
Key Questions Answered
The Sabuj Sathi project has been renamed 'Sarathi'. In the 2026-27 financial year, the state aims to distribute cycles to 12 lakh 59 thousand students at a cost of about 508 crore rupees.
While cycles were primarily given to ninth-grade students until now, there are plans to provide cycles to eighth-grade students starting from the next academic year.
The Chief Minister announced that individuals or entities setting up cycle factories in West Bengal will be provided land on a contractual basis, with an agreement to purchase cycles directly from those factories.
