Bicycles for girls: a latecomer
Buddhadeb distributes bicycles in West Bengal: a much delayed inspiration from Bihar!
Bicycles for girls: a latecomer
Kolkata: according to a latest TV news report Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, the West Bengal CM has started distributing bicycles among school girls in the state. In this he seems to be inspired by the example of Bihar and Nitish Kumar’s scheme. But there may be a serious difference between the two approaches to bicycle distribution – Nitish distributed started his bicycles distribution process way back during his first term and is now reaping the benefits along with beneficiaries of the scheme. In the vase of Bengal the same act will be seen as a desperate attempt to regain prospects avoiding the much predicted defeat in the forthcoming elections.
The voter today indeed knows that he is bartering his vote with the politician for developmental benefits! But he is not impressed when such offers are made as a last ditch gesture rather than a genuine attempt to win his affection. In this electoral politics is a great deal like courtship, which is why even the press ends up using the phrase ‘wooing the voter’.
On the occasion of distribution of bicycles, Buddhadeb Bhattacharya graciously hoped that ‘that with these cycles the girl students can go and study more as now they will have a proper means of transport’. But Bhattacharya’s pleasure was spoilt by Mamata Banerjee’s shrill accusation that the Buddhadeb government is misusing central funds. TMC Chief Mamata Banerjee said, ‘they are giving bicycles for free, all their populist schemes are being funded from money given by the centre. Yet they claim credit for it’.
The state has begun distributing 33,000 cycles for class nine girl students in the North and South 24 Parganas districts, and 14,000 for tribal girls in three districts in northern Bengal.