New Delhi, July 31 — Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Friday launched the Vidya Vahini scheme, distributing bicycles to over 3,000 girl students of Class IX from government schools across the city.

At a programme held at the Sports Complex in East Vinod Nagar, the Chief Minister said that under the scheme nearly 1.40 lakh girl students studying in Delhi government schools will receive free bicycles in a phased manner. She interacted with the students, enquiring about their studies, future aspirations and dreams.

“The programme is a celebration of Nari Shakti and of the collective resolve to empower every daughter through education,” Gupta said. She encouraged the girls to pursue education with confidence and dedication and to strive towards their goals.

Students also presented her with handmade paintings, which she appreciated, praising their creativity and wishing them a bright future.

Union Minister of State and Delhi BJP president Harsh Malhotra, Delhi Education Minister Ashish Sood, Patparganj MLA Ravinder Singh Negi, Director of Education and Sports Nitin Jindal, teachers and parents attended the event.

Addressing the gathering, Gupta said Prime Minister Narendra Modi has placed women-led development at the centre of the vision for a Viksit Bharat and has identified education as the most effective means of women’s empowerment. The Vidya Vahini scheme, she noted, has been launched in line with that vision.

The Chief Minister said the scheme will ensure safer and more convenient travel to school, save students’ time, improve regular attendance, reduce the likelihood of dropouts and ease the daily concerns of parents.

She described a bicycle as more than a mode of transport, calling it a symbol of freedom, self-confidence, dignity, self-reliance and opportunity. “The bicycle is not merely a gift but the beginning of a new journey,” she said, urging students to study with dedication and discipline, use their bicycles responsibly, follow traffic rules and prioritise road safety.

Education Minister Ashish Sood said the Vidya Vahini scheme holds particular significance because Delhi is led by a woman Chief Minister who is ensuring that the education, safety and empowerment of girls remain among the government’s highest priorities.

The distribution marks the first phase of a programme intended to expand access to education for girls in government schools by addressing everyday mobility challenges.