Students of government high schools and aided institutions who get free bicyles will also get free servicing for the first six months.
Under an agreement between the Department of Public Instruction (DPI) and bicycle manufacturers, vendors have to arrange for free servicing camps at the cluster level after the cycles are supplied. The companies must arrange at least one camp in each cluster, and a school which is accessible to all children in the area should be selected for the camp.
The students will get warranty cards for new cycles. The provisions apply only to students getting new cycles.
Anantha Padmanabh, an official with the planning section of the DPI, told Express, “We have decided to conduct free service camps because severe damage to major parts of a bicycle can be avoided if it is serviced in the first few months. The companies have also agreed to this.”
According to officials, cycles provided in areas where the roads are bad are at risk of getting damaged faster.
Though there may not be major trouble in the first six months, parts like bolts, nuts, wheels and chains need servicing, an official pointed out.
According to a circular issued by the DPI, block education officers (BEO) have to provide a list of the clusters where camps will be conducted to the DPI commissioner’s office within a month.
The department has also issued a circular to create awareness among students and teachers about the new provisions.
Meanwhile, from this year, students getting new bicycles will receive a two-year warranty to cover manufacturing defects. This new arrangement will help get service with the nearest agent for major problems. Important parts such as the frame, handle bar and front fork will come with a five-year warranty.
The DPI has instructed that warranty cards should be given to the students along with a user manual on proper maintenance. Additionally, each school will get a tool kit containing spanners, air pump and puncture repair material.