Bicycles meant for free distribution under Govt scheme stayed in godown for 10 years; auction as scrap failed

Vadodara: The state government provides bicycles for girls who pass class 8 and go to class 9. However, in Vadodara district panchayat, 995 such bicycles under the government scheme for the year 2014-15 were kept for 10 years and were not allocated to girls. Finally, it was the turn to hold an auction to sell them for scrap. The bicycles were under the hands of the Panchayat’s Primary Education Department.

In the meeting of the district panchayat this week, the opposition presented a proposal to repair these bicycles and distribute them to the girls. The authorities decided to hold an auction as the bicycles are 10 years old and repairing would not make sense. However, not a single bicycle was sold for scrap. The panchayat kept the minimum upset value of a cycle at Rs. 900. So the bidding started at Rs. 900, but the minimum upset value of Rs. 900 seemed high to traders. They wanted a bicycle for Rs. 450. As a result, not a single bicycle could be auctioned. DeshGujarat