Sindhuli, May 24: It takes two hours on foot to reach Kapilakot Secondary School from Deujor in Marin of Sindhuli district. Ritumaya Syangtan has to walk four hours to go to school. Even it is her daily routine to collect grass before leaving for school. She has completed her studies up to class 10.
After Class 11, Marin Rural Municipality has provided free bicycles to these children. Bicycles have been distributed to 160 girl students studying in Class 11 of local Khayrsal High School and Kapilakot High School along with Syangtan for ease of commuting to and from school.
“Riding a bicycle has its advantages. Going to school will be faster. It is also environment friendly”, said Syangtan, who is learning to ride a bicycle.
Ritumaya is happy to get a bicycle. The problem is that the road for cycling is rough. She says that since the road from lower Deujor to upper Deujor (one hour) is unpaved, there is no alternative to walking by bicycle. Syangtan says that the local government that gave the bicycle should now improve the road for cycling as well.
Subba Singh of Marin-2 Sirtauli, who has been looking for a room for his daughter to study in Marin Multipurpose Campus, is now thinking of making her commute by bicycle. After it took more than three hours for her daughter to travel from home to school, she had to rent a room.
Not only the daughter but also the parents are happy with the bicycle provided by the municipality. “My daughter has learned about bicycle riding, and she is encouraged to read more. We are also happy that our daughter got a bicycle after reading”, said Singh.
He has suggested that other municipalities should also bring incentive programs like Marin. He is of the opinion that even young children will be encouraged to study by getting a bicycle after passing the 10th standard.
Khemhari Baral, Head of Marin Multipurpose Campus, says that distribution of bicycles to girls studying in class 11 and Rs 1 lakh to girls who pass the graduation level, started by Marin Rural Municipality, will help in educational improvement. He said that such programs will help to increase women’s access to higher education.
He said, “Even though the village municipality gave bicycles on Saturday, the girl students are coming to school on foot. It takes a few days to learn.” We believe that once they can drive themselves, they will go to school on bicycles.”
According to the policy and program of the financial year 2079-80, bicycles were distributed to the girls studying in class 11 by arranging the budget, said Bimarsh Moktan, chairman of the rural municipality. According to him, the local government has even dug unpaved roads where roads do not reach. It will be upgraded gradually.
Chairman Moktan said that the program focused on female students was conducted because the number of female students dropping out of education and getting married at a young age is increasing.
