In a troubling instance of bureaucratic delay, over 1,500 scooters, meant to be distributed to meritorious underprivileged girls in Rajasthan under the Kali Bai Bheel Scooty Scheme, have been left unused and are reportedly rusting away. The scooters, which were purchased at a cost of ₹80,000 each, amounting to a total expenditure of ₹12 crore from taxpayers, were aimed at enabling girls from low-income families to pursue higher education.
Launched in 2020, the Kali Bai Bheel Scooty Scheme was designed to provide scooters to deserving female students, particularly those whose family income is less than ₹2.5 lakh per year and who scored at least 65% in state board exams or 75% in CBSE exams in Class 10 or 12. However, despite meeting the eligibility criteria, students have not received the scooters, which are parked at Vidyamandir College and Hardev Joshi Government Girls College in Banswara since 2023, collecting dust and rust.
The distribution of these scooters was halted following a change in government after the BJP’s victory in last year’s Rajasthan assembly elections, replacing the Congress-led Ashok Gehlot administration. The new government has yet to complete the necessary processes, including generating QR codes for beneficiaries through the finance department, to release the scooters to the eligible students.
Dr. Sarla Pandya, principal of Hardev Joshi Government Girls College, explained, “We are the nodal college for distributing scooties under the welfare scheme. They were not distributed because of the model code of conduct, and we are now awaiting a go-ahead from the finance department.”
The delay has drawn criticism from the Opposition. Raj Kumar Roat, MP from the Bharat Adivasi Party, condemned the situation, stating, “This is criminal neglect by this government. The scooters are rusting and turning to scrap instead of reaching the beneficiaries. It is very sad that the government is not monitoring this situation.”
Meanwhile, Rajasthan’s minister for tribal welfare, Babu Lal Kharadi, assured the public that the scooters would be distributed within a week but did not provide a specific reason for the prolonged delay. He also promised that action would be taken against any officials found responsible for negligence regarding government property.