Free student bicycles come with full of frustration

Students at the Government Higher Secondary School in Ondipudur were dismayed on Saturday after receiving free bicycles that many say were delivered with loose fittings, poorly assembled components, or defective parts.

- HD Bureau

The bicycles, distributed under a state welfare scheme for Class 1] students, left several recipients unable to ride them without repairs, prompting frustration among parents and teachers who described the issue as a recurring problem.

Teachers at the school said the condition of the bicycles has been a persistent concern, with students often finding themselves at repair shops before they can use them for their daily commute.

Several staff members noted that the defects ranged from misaligned brakes and loose chains to bent mudguards and missing screws, forcing students to spend money on fixes that should have been addressed during assembly. They argued that the intention of the distribution scheme—helping students travel safely and efficiently—was undermined by the poor quality of delivery.