Tripura to Provide Free Bicycles to 41,800 Class IX Girls, CM Highlights Women’s Empowerment, Questions Remain Over CBSE Preparedness

By Our Correspondent

Agartala, June 15, 2026

Chief Minister Professor (Dr) Manik Saha on Monday inaugurated the statewide bicycle distribution programme for Class IX girl students at Shishu Bihar School in Agartala and announced that 41,800 girls across Tripura will receive bicycles free of cost during the current academic year.

Addressing students, teachers, and parents at the inaugural ceremony, the Chief Minister said the initiative is expected to ensure regular school attendance among girl students, increase their interest in education, and provide them with greater confidence and motivation to achieve their life goals.

“I believe this initiative will not only help ensure regular attendance of girl students in schools but will also encourage them to pursue education more seriously and move forward with renewed enthusiasm and self-confidence,” he said.

Highlighting the government's commitment to women's empowerment, Dr. Saha stated that women constitute nearly 50 percent of society and play an indispensable role in the state's overall development. He said the state government, guided by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, is continuously working to create opportunities for women to become educated, self-reliant, confident, and successful citizens.

The Chief Minister also pointed out that 33 percent of government jobs in Tripura are reserved for women, describing the policy as an important measure to strengthen women’s participation in governance and public service.

According to Dr. Saha, the bicycle distribution programme represents another significant step towards achieving the goal of women’s empowerment. He noted that the earlier family income ceiling condition for availing the scheme has been withdrawn, making the benefit accessible to all eligible Class IX girl students irrespective of their family income.

“It is a matter of great satisfaction that 41,800 Class IX girl students in the state are being provided bicycles free of cost under this programme during the current year,” he said.

While the bicycle distribution programme received widespread appreciation, concerns continue to be raised regarding the preparedness of schools in Tripura for the implementation of the new curriculum introduced by the Central Board of Secondary Education.

Despite the new academic framework, Bengali-language textbooks aligned with the revised syllabus have reportedly not yet been made available in CBSE-affiliated schools in the state. Translation and printing work for the textbooks in Bengali is yet to begin, according to concerns expressed by stakeholders.

Questions have also been raised regarding the readiness of schools to implement several key components of the new CBSE curriculum, including the mandatory three-language learning framework, vocational education infrastructure, and facilities required for Artificial Intelligence-based learning.

Observers note that no specific announcement was made by the Chief Minister regarding these issues during the programme. However, Dr. Saha reiterated that the new CBSE educational framework as per NEP 2020 will be implemented in Tripura as part of the broader educational reforms being undertaken in the state.

Education experts believe that providing bicycles to girl students can significantly improve accessibility, reduce dropout rates, and encourage continued education, particularly in rural and remote areas. At the same time, they stress that successful implementation of the new CBSE curriculum will require timely availability of textbooks, trained teachers, language resources, vocational education facilities, and digital infrastructure.

As Tripura moves forward with initiatives aimed at improving educational access and empowering girls, attention is also expected to focus on how effectively the state addresses the academic and infrastructural challenges associated with the rollout of the new national education framework.

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