Title: Free bicycles for school girls in India lead to a cycling revolution
In a small village in West Bengal, school girls are seen walking proudly with bicycles they received from their school. This simple act symbolizes a larger movement that is transforming the lives of young girls across India.
Nibha Kumari, a resident of Bihar, shares her story of how a bicycle changed her life when she was just 15 years old. For two years, she cycled two hours daily to school and coaching classes, thanks to a bicycle provided by the state government. This enabled her to complete high school and pursue her dreams.
The distribution of free bicycles to school-going girls in India has led to a significant increase in female enrolment. A recent study published in the journal ScienceDirect reveals that cycling among rural girls has more than doubled from 4.5% in 2007 to 11% in 2017, reducing the gender gap in the activity.
State-run free bicycle distribution schemes have targeted girls, who often faced higher school dropout rates due to household chores and long walks to school. This approach has proven successful not only in India but also in countries like Colombia, Kenya, Malawi, and Zimbabwe.
The cycling revolution in India is most prominent in villages, with states like Bihar, West Bengal, Assam, and Chhattisgarh leading the growth. This trend is crucial in bridging the gender gap in cycling, as more working men than women currently cycle to work.
As American suffragist Susan B Anthony once said, the bicycle has done more to emancipate women than anything else in the world. The simple act of providing free bicycles to school girls in India is empowering a generation of young women and transforming their lives for the better.
