📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / Michael Gäbler
Education
Tamil Nadu Approves Free Bicycle Scheme for 5.3 Lakh School Students
✍️ EdexLive
🗓 14 Nov 2026, 07:16 AM
👁 24
The Tamil Nadu government has finalized a scheme to provide free bicycles to 5.3 lakh students across the state.
Tamil Nadu’s state administration announced the completion of a free‑bicycle programme that will benefit roughly 5.3 lakh school‑going children. The decision, taken after consultations with education officials, aims to remove transport barriers that often hinder regular attendance, especially in rural areas.
Officials said the bicycles will be distributed through schools, with priority given to students who travel long distances on foot. By easing commute challenges, the scheme is expected to boost enrolment retention and support extracurricular participation.
The rollout will commence in the upcoming academic session, with procurement contracts awarded to approved manufacturers. The government has pledged to monitor the programme’s impact and ensure that the bicycles reach the intended beneficiaries on schedule.
Officials said the bicycles will be distributed through schools, with priority given to students who travel long distances on foot. By easing commute challenges, the scheme is expected to boost enrolment retention and support extracurricular participation.
The rollout will commence in the upcoming academic session, with procurement contracts awarded to approved manufacturers. The government has pledged to monitor the programme’s impact and ensure that the bicycles reach the intended beneficiaries on schedule.