<p>Children studying at government schools in the state will be deprived of two major schemes during this academic year.</p>.<p>Following the fund crunch and not setting aside funds in the budget, the department of School Education and Literacy has decided not to distribute free shoes-socks and bicycles for children during this academic year.</p>.<p>Top sources from the department told <em>DH </em>that this year the concentration of the department is to improve the quality of education which was hit due to Covid-19 pandemic in the last two years. "Along with improving quality, we have decided not to distribute free cycles and shoe-socks as there is no funds provided in the budget," explained an official.</p>.<p>Every year the department used to spend Rs 140 crore to provide one set of shoes and two pairs of socks to over 50 lakh children in grades 1 to 10. Bicycles were distributed to grade 8 students and the scheme was started mainly to avoid drop out rate at the rural part.</p>.<p>During 2020-21 and 2021-22 the schemes were not implemented due to pandemic and closure of schools. But the distribution of free bicycles was stopped even a year before Covid.</p>
<p>Children studying at government schools in the state will be deprived of two major schemes during this academic year.</p>.<p>Following the fund crunch and not setting aside funds in the budget, the department of School Education and Literacy has decided not to distribute free shoes-socks and bicycles for children during this academic year.</p>.<p>Top sources from the department told <em>DH </em>that this year the concentration of the department is to improve the quality of education which was hit due to Covid-19 pandemic in the last two years. "Along with improving quality, we have decided not to distribute free cycles and shoe-socks as there is no funds provided in the budget," explained an official.</p>.<p>Every year the department used to spend Rs 140 crore to provide one set of shoes and two pairs of socks to over 50 lakh children in grades 1 to 10. Bicycles were distributed to grade 8 students and the scheme was started mainly to avoid drop out rate at the rural part.</p>.<p>During 2020-21 and 2021-22 the schemes were not implemented due to pandemic and closure of schools. But the distribution of free bicycles was stopped even a year before Covid.</p>
