'Cycles distributed at schools substandard'

Though good quality cycles are available in the market at the same price, the cycles distributed to the students by the government is said to be not up to the mark. The students and parents complain that the cycles are of substandard and many of the parts are missing. The parts fixed to the cycle are very weak and hence break off easily.

They say that these cycles do not even last for couple of months in the region, which is mainly because of hilly terrain. The proof for this is the fact that only couple of children still ride the cycle while most of them have dumped their cycles.

“We need minimum of Rs 300 to repair the cycle. The children injure themselves falling off the cycle due to some functional lapses. If Government gives money, we can buy good quality cycle ourselves,” say most of the parents. The cycle frames and spokes are very weak and hence the parents say that they are sceptical to let their children use these cycles.