A Simple Ride Towards A Brighter Life — “Sabooj Sathi Scheme”

Ishani Mullick, Hello Kolkata: The humble bicycle, often called the “poor man’s vehicle,” is now being recognized worldwide as a symbol of good health, education, and sustainable living.
In the field of education, bicycles have become a bridge of opportunity. Many school students in rural areas depend on bicycles to travel long distances to reach their classrooms, ensuring access to learning. Governments in different states have also introduced bicycle distribution schemes to support education for underprivileged children.
The “Sabooj Sathi Scheme” is a student welfare initiative launched by the Government of West Bengal to provide bicycles with free of cost to class IX students both boys & girls studying in government school, government aided school and Madrashas in the state from 2015-2016 financial year.
The scheme is implemented by the Backward Classes Welfare Department,Govt. of West Bengal in collaboration with School Education Department, MAME Department & Tribal Development Departments govt. of West Bengal. West Bengal SC, ST & OBC Development & Finance Corporation, Govt. of West Bengal, undertaking is functions as chanalising agency.
By now, this scheme is well-known as “Sabooj Sathi” as coined by Hon’ble Chief Minister herself and it reflects her desire to see young students empowered to achieve new feats in the future through the bicycles provided under the scheme. She also created the scheme logo which is firmly attached in the basket in front of the bicycle. Hon’ble CM flagged off the distribution in October 2015 from Paschim Medinipur.
The scheme has been successful in achieving its objectives, with over 1 crore 38 lakh bicycles distributed to students across the state since its inception Phase I to Phase X. Today, CM herself ingaurate its Phase – XI from Bardhaman Municipal Boys High school, Purba Bardhaman. In this phase the targeted students will be 12.5 lakh.
The scheme has also received recognition from various national and international organizations for its impact on education and sustainable development.
The scheme was conceived with the primary objective of enhancing student access to Secondary Education. The scheme is further expected-  To increase retention in schools, To encourage students to take up higher studies, To inculcate sense of confidence among the girl students by promoting mobility, To promote environment-friendly and healthy means of transportation.

The objectives are aligned with four Sustainable Goals of agenda(SGD) .
These are SDG1: Good Health & Well-being, SDG2: Quality Education, SDG3: Gender Equality and SDG4: Climate actions.
Here are some Sabooj Sathi Benifits:
Encourages Education: SABOOJ SATHI Scheme encourages education by providing bicycles to students, which helps them in attending school regularly.

Health Benefits: Cycling is a form of exercise, and the scheme encourages students to adopt a healthy lifestyle and remain physically fit.

Saves Time and Money: The scheme saves the time and money of the students who have to otherwise walk long distances to reach school.

Environmental Benefits: Encouraging cycling as a mode of transportation reduces the carbon footprint, making it an eco-friendly initiative.

Empowerment: SABOOJ SATHI Scheme promotes the empowerment of girl students by providing them with bicycles, making it easier for them to travel to school.

Enhanced Mobility: The scheme provides enhanced mobility to students who live in remote areas, which makes it easier for them to attend school.

Reduces Dropout Rates: By providing bicycles to students, the scheme reduces dropout rates, as it becomes easier for students to attend school regularly.

Overall with multiple benefits in health, education, and lifestyle, the bicycle stands as a powerful tool for building a healthier and more sustainable society.