No cycles, students to get cash instead

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Scheduled Caste Development Department has decided to cancel the tender floated for the purchase of cycles for free distribution among girl students belonging to the dalit communities. The decision was taken following the intervention of Scheduled Castes Welfare Minister A P Anilkumar after complaints of corruption in inviting tenders.

Companies were given only four days of time to submit tenders for the programme announced by the department as part of the 100-day programme of the UDF Government. The programme was to distribute free cycles to 3,000 girl students of class VIII.The tender invitation created a controversy as several companies could not submit tenders within such a short span of time. There were allegations from several quarters, including Opposition leader V S Achuthanandan, that it was part of a ploy to help a particular company.As per the new decision, the government will grant Rs 3,000 each to the students selected under the programme. It has also been decided to entrust a committee with the PTA president and headmaster as members to oversee the purchase in each school.The state-level inauguration of the programme will be held in Wayanad on September 18.