New Delhi, Oct. 9 -- For girls in Chhattisgarh's rural, tribal and remote areas, getting to school often meant long walks under challenging terrain and weather conditions.

Under the Saraswati Cycle Yojana, this challenge of time and hardship has been removed for more than 3.30 lakh girls over the past two years.

For many, the bicycles received under the scheme is the reason they can continue attending schools.

The scheme covers Class 9 students from Scheduled Caste, Scheduled Tribe and BPL (Below Poverty Line) backgrounds in government and aided schools, with the simple goal of easing their commute to school.

Many girls were walking 3 to 5 kilometres a day, sometimes more, just to reach class. Riding a bicycle has a significant impact where the distance is large and public transport is limited.

At the Government Girls' Higher Secondary School in Sarangarh, 150 students received cycles.

Among them is Chhoti Yadav, who used to walk three kilometres from her village, through summer heat and monsoon mud to reach class. With a cycle, both her travel time and effort have dropped. In nearby Basinbahra, students like Aakanksha Ratre and hostel resident Diksha Sidar have found their commute easier too.

For families who cannot easily afford a bicycle, the support can make a practical difference to a girl's ability to attend school regularly.

The scheme is not limited to the plains. In Dantewada, once a Naxal-affected district, 54 girls at Kanya High School Porta Cabin Chitalur received cycles this session.

In Balod's Gundardehi block, 32 students at Government Higher Secondary School Achaud also received cycles. At Jawanga's Education City Auditorium in Dantewada, 256 Class 9 students from nearby schools were given free cycles during the School Admission Festival.

In Surguja, 120 students of Government Girls' Higher Secondary School, Balrampur received cycles. For Radhika, a student from Obari village who once walked four kilometres to school each day, the cycle meant reaching class on time, even during the monsoon.

Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.