We have a welfare scheme of the Madhya Pradesh State
Government (suitably and amply co-financed by the Central Government also )
which provides for the free purchase of a bicycle for all the girls attending
the High Schools in the Government Schools. The idea of providing free bicycles
to the girls is to facilitate an easy approach for the girls as the Middle and
High Secondary Schools are generally located away from the smaller villages and
it may be difficult for the girls to go there on foot. These schools may be located
seven to ten kilometers away from their villages.
The bicycles are a gift from the State Government for each
girl. The quality of the bikes may not be very satisfactory but then it is an
instrument to sustain the enrolment and attendance of the girls at the post-
primary level schooling.
Gender bias in education
Girls are discouraged from attending the schools after the
Middle level. They are forced to remain at home to look after the younger
siblings, cook food, attend to the daily house chores, fetch drinking water
from the nearby water source and avoid getting education beyond sixth or
seventh classes.
The boys are encouraged to go to schools upto college level,
not attend the domestic works, enjoy friendship outings late nights, attend
parties on behalf of the family and interfere with the lives of their sisters
who contribute at homes.
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