New Delhi, 26 March (H.S.):
Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta distributed bicycles to 1,100 girls entering class 10 in government schools of the Shalimar Bagh assembly constituency on Thursday. The event coincided with the auspicious occasion of Durga Ashtami and was held in the premises of Sarvodaya Vidyalaya in Pitampura.
Many girls became emotional as they received the cycles and expressed their gratitude to the CM.
Speaking at the event Gupta hailed daughters as divine forms and said Navratri should be seen not only as a festival of worship but also as an occasion to pledge respect and empowerment for girls and their future.
The CM explained that the recently presented Delhi budget includes several schemes targeted specifically at daughters sisters and women so that this section of society can become stronger and self‑reliant. She referred feelingly to the Lakhpati Bitiya scheme and said that from now on the government itself will lay the financial foundation for every girl child born in Delhi.
Under this scheme the government will deposit financial assistance directly into the girl’s account from the time of her birth till she completes graduation passing through class 1 6 9 12 and each year of college. By the time she graduates every girl is expected to receive around ₹1.25 lakh in support which will help her grow into a “lakhpati bitiya” and move ahead in life with confidence.
The CM said she wants every girl in Delhi to study not only till school but also through college stand on her own feet and build her own future.
She added that when she interacted with the students she learnt that commuting to and from school was a major hurdle affecting their education and in extreme cases forcing some girls to drop out. To address this problem the government has now decided that every girl entering class 10 in Delhi government schools will be given a bicycle every year. Around 1.3 lakh girls are expected to benefit from this initiative in the current year.
The CM clarified that while class 9 girls who clear the board exam will receive cycles from the government under the official scheme today’s distribution to those who have entered class 10 in her constituency was done as a personal initiative and gesture of support.
Gupta also took a strong stance against certain political comments she described as “offensive and shameful” about the bicycle scheme. She said such remarks about a programme created for the future of daughters are disgraceful and lamented that people still hold such regressive views. She added that such opinions are a matter of shame for society and the nation.
The CM shared her father’s teachings with the girls urging them to stand firm and respond courageously to challenges instead of living in fear. She assured them that the Delhi government stands fully responsible for their safety and will ensure that every girl gets a fair opportunity to move ahead. She said daughters must become so accomplished that parents society and the country are proud of them and expressed full confidence that every girl in Delhi will write her own future.
During the event the CM walked among the students engaged in direct conversation and listened to their hopes. Many girls were visibly moved and some even choked up with emotion. Some shared their dream of becoming an IAS officer while others expressed joy that they would now reach school on time thanks to the bicycle. One student said she never imagined she would meet the CM personally and expressed her happiness at seeing so many schemes being implemented for the encouragement and welfare of girls. Another girl said the scheme was genuinely motivating and appreciated the CM’s efforts for girls’ education.
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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar
