New Delhi, Oct. 13 -- Delhi Education Minister Ashish Sood on Tuesday distributed 432 bicycles to Class 9 girl students at a government girls' school in Janakpuri, stressing that education should build students' confidence and independence alongside academic performance.

The distribution was organised under the Vidya Vahini Yojana, launched on July 31, 2026. Around 26,000 bicycles have been distributed to students across Delhi under the scheme so far, according to the government.

Addressing the students, Sood said practical knowledge, communication skills and self-confidence were essential for future employment, urging parents to encourage their daughters to ride bicycles and become independent. "When a candidate applies for a job, recruiters often set the mark sheet aside first. What truly opens doors for you is how confidently you speak and how well you understand your subject. This

bicycle is not just a gift, it is a tool to boost your self-confidence and independence," he said.

The minister also reviewed educational facilities developed in the Janakpuri constituency, including smart classrooms, digital libraries and language laboratories. The constituency has 255 smart classrooms, two digital libraries, four information and communication technology (ICT) labs and five language labs, officials said. Highlighting the expansion of digital infrastructure, Sood said 9,000 smart boards and 20,000 computers had been installed in Delhi government schools this year. An equal number of devices is planned for installation in the next financial year, according to the release. Students are also being taught languages such as French, German, Spanish, Sanskrit and Kannada as part of efforts to broaden their learning opportunities. Describing the changes in government schools, the minister said the education system had moved from classrooms where children sat on jute mats and wrote on wooden slates to technology-enabled learning environments equipped with smart boards and Chromebooks.

Addressing the students' aspirations, Sood linked their education to the national development target of 2047.

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