Black to saffron: Girls' bicycles in Rajasthan take political colour

The free cycle scheme was started in 2009 to promote education of girls in Rajasthan

The Rajasthan government has decided to provide saffron-coloured bicycles to

The saffron colour is linked with the ruling BJP in Rajasthan.

With the BJP coming into power in December last year, tenders have now been issued for orange-coloured bicycles.

Rajasthan Education Minister Madan Dilawar said the colour of bicycles to be given to the girl students at the state government schools will be saffron. “The initiative aims to support girls in government schools by facilitating their access to education through the provision of free bicycles,” he said.

According to him, the saffron colour represents energy, bravery and positivity, he said. Dilawar also noted that this was the colour used for bicycles during the previous BJP government but the former Congress government changed it to black. "We are again changing the colour of the bicycle to saffron. Saffron colour symbolises valour and bravery. When our country got Independence, freedom fighters wore the saffron colour, symbolising valour," Dilawar told reporters.T he minister said the saffron colour is also synonymous with sunrise.

Dilawar also said that computer tablets will be distributed to 55,800 children in the state on Thursday on Teacher's Day at a state-level felicitation programme by chief minister Bhajan Lal Sharma.

The free cycle scheme was started in 2009 to promote education of girls in Rajasthan as many students dropped out in Class 9 due to lack of transportation. Over 7 lakh female students are eligible to get a free bicycle from the education department, according to TOI.

Notably, the beneficiaries during the tenure of the BJP government led by Vasundhara Raje (2013-2018) received saffron bicycles as part of the scheme. However, their colour changed to black after the Congress formed the government in Rajasthan under Ashok Gehlot in 2018.

(With PTI inputs)