Students lodge a complaint at the janata darbar on Monday. Picture by Deepak Kumar

Patna, April 11: Chief minister Nitish Kumar’s initiatives for the girl students in the state have given the latter immense confidence and strength.

This was proven today when Class IX students of Rajkiya Kanya Uccha Vidyalaya reached the chief minister’s janata darbar at 1 Aney Marg to complain that many girl students had not received the school uniforms promised to them under the Mukhyamantri Balika Poshak Yojana.

Rashmi Kumar, one of the students, said: “Sir, we got the money for bicycles under the Mukhyamantri Balika Cycle Yojana but not for our school uniforms.”

“Our classes have started but we are yet to get the money. Our parents cannot afford to buy new clothes for us. So we request you to release the money as soon as possible so that we can buy our uniform,” added Rashmi.

After listening to their complaint, Nitish told the girls: “I will look into the mater. These programmes were started to benefit schoolgirls. I will find out what has stopped the money from reaching them.

“This yojana is a revolution in itself. The confidence of the girls has risen sharply. There has been a personality transformation and the attendance in schools has also increased remarkably. The idea is that a bicycle increases their mobility and enables them to travel free-of-cost to school, reducing at least one major family expense,” added Nitish.

From the new financial year, Rs 1,000 is being given to girls studying in classes nine to 12 for school dress, against the sum of Rs 700 earlier. Boys and girls studying in these classes get Rs 2,500 each for purchasing cycles, compared to Rs 2,000 earlier. Every government school is getting Rs 10,000 for organising educational trips, against Rs 5,000 earlier.

Sheetal Sinha, another student, said: “Our seniors said that they have got the money for the uniform without any delay. After waiting for almost a month we have come to the janata darbar. Our school principal told us that the chief minister would listen to our grievances, as he has started these programmes.”

Both the programmes were started by Nitish during his first term. They were described to be the chief minister’s dream projects.

Though both the schemes were launched in 2006, their effects can now be realised, said a source.

“I did not imagine I would own a bicycle even in my dreams,” said Pragya Kumari, another student.

For Pragya and many students like her, the scheme has been a dream come true in many ways.

She added: “Earlier, my parents did not allow me to go out of the house. Now they encourage me to ride bicycles.

“It saves a lot of time and spares us inconveniences on our way to and from school,” said Pragya.

Anjani Kumar Singh, principal secretary, human resource development department, which is responsible for doling out the funds, told The Telegraph: “As the programmes have been conceived by the chief minister himself, you can be assured that the matter will be looked into.

“I will talk to the personnel concerned and see to it that the money reaches the students and the school as soon as possible,” added Singh.

A source said the Chief Minister’s Medha Puraskar would be awarded to students who had secured the top 10 ranks in the Class X and Class XII boards this year.

The topper would be given Rs 25,000 and the others Rs 15,000 each.

Toppers at the district level would also be awarded Rs 10,000 each.