More than 100 Class 10 students at Japmali Deshbandhu High School in Bankura’s Mejia block locked the school’s main gate on Thursday, protesting that they had not received bicycles promised under the state’s student cycle-distribution programme. The demonstration prevented teachers from entering the school, according to a report by Anandabazar – West Bengal.
The students were reportedly eligible to receive bicycles when they were in Class 9 last year under the Sabuj Sathi scheme. While students at other schools received bicycles, the students of Japmali Deshbandhu High School allegedly remained excluded from the distribution. They are now studying in Class 10.
Students and parents said they had repeatedly approached the school authorities seeking the bicycles, but no delivery followed. According to the report, the students were given assurances that the bicycles would be provided later, while different reasons were cited for the delay, including elections and administrative complications.
The protest began around the time school was due to start. The students locked the main entrance and stopped teachers from entering the premises. They said they would continue their agitation until all Class 10 students received the bicycles.
Class 10 student Ankita Nandi said the students had applied repeatedly over the past year and had also submitted a written request to the block development officer. She alleged that the students had been kept waiting by repeated explanations linked to elections and administrative difficulties. Nandi said the students were no longer willing to accept assurances and would continue the movement until the bicycles were delivered.
The cycle distribution programme has since been renamed under the new state government. This year, Class 9 students at the same school reportedly received bicycles through the Sarathi scheme, but the students who had missed the distribution in Class 9 were not included because they had moved to Class 10.
The school’s acting head teacher did not comment on the matter, according to the report. Assistant teacher Utpal Malik said the acting head teacher had repeatedly applied to the block administration and the education department for the students’ bicycles. The authorities had assured the school several times that the bicycles would be supplied, he said, but had not provided a date for delivery.
The episode has left the school, students and local administration facing an unresolved question over how students missed during a scheduled distribution are to be covered after moving into the next class. The report did not provide a confirmed delivery date or details of any administrative order for distributing the pending bicycles. The students’ protest was continuing until the promised bicycles were received.
