'SabujSathi' bicycles being sold in the markets

PRASHANT ACHARYA, EOI, Siliguri, 5 Feb 2016: The bicycles distributed under the state government's 'SabujSathi' (Green Friend) project are being sold openly in various cycle stores under Matigara block. 

Students were found selling their cycles in the stores for Rs 2,000 to Rs 2,500 as they claimed they were not happy with what they received from chief minister Mamata Banerjee. "Eta chalano khub risk je kono samay chaka khuley jate pare aar brake fail hoye jai' (It is quite risky to ride these cycles as the wheels can get dislodged anytime comes out any time causing brake failure),” said Prijush Barman of Matigara High School. 

He added, "We need money and not the cycles. I study in class XI and for me, money is much more important. The chief minister could have distributed it to the juniors. These cycles need repairs of Rs 500 at least and for the poor, it is a big amount. So we have decided to sell them." 

According to Burman, hundreds of students of his school have already sold their cycles in various stores. He also said that the condition of the cycles distributed were not safe to ride on highways. 

Meanwhile, cycle store and repair shop owners who did not want to be named, said, "Dada anek cycle bikri hoye gachey." (Many cycles haves been sold by students.) The cycles that have been are being re-fitted and the government logo being taken out for resale.