Bengal govt renames Sabuj Sathi as Sarathi scheme, 12.59 lakh students to get cycles: CM

West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari. File. | Photo credit: ANI

West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Tuesday (September 29, 2026) said his government will distribute bicycles to 12.59 million students this academic year under the rebranded Sarat scheme.

Commenting on the school bicycle distribution program in Howrah, he alleged that the previous TMC government procured “substandard” bicycles and gave them to students under its Sabuj Sathi scheme.

The BJP government rechristened the Sabuj Sathi scheme of the previous exemption as Sarathi.

“We will allot land for setting up a facility to manufacture high-quality bicycles in Howrah. As many as 12.59 lakh students will be given bicycles under the Sarat scheme this academic year,” the chief minister said.

The Chief Minister said that ₹300 crore has been allocated as compound grant for schools under the Sarathi scheme.

He accused the previous TMC government of providing student scholarships to a certain community as part of its “appeasement policy”.

“We will adjust it. Isn’t this a government for every community? Every Sanatan Hindu as well as students of other faiths will now get a scholarship,” the Chief Minister announced.

Mr. Adhikari also said that his government would not provide ₹10,000 for smartphones and tablets to students of higher secondary schools, as was done in the previous permit. “We will provide them with a higher amount to purchase learning materials,” he added.

Accusing the Left and the TMC government of shutting down NCC programs in schools, Mr. Adhikari said he had spoken to Defense Minister Rajnath Singh on the matter.

NCC units will be revived in educational institutions to improve physical fitness of students and enhance national security, he said.

“We must be thrown out of nationalism and inspired by the ideals of Syama Prasad Mookerjee who was instrumental in carving out the present day West Bengal. Today the youth must remember his contribution and sacrifice in saving the Sanatan Hindu homeland,” he said.

Published – 29 Sep 2026 18:33 IST