West Bengal Renames Sabuj Sathi Scheme as SARATHI; Student Verification Begins

The West Bengal government has officially renamed its flagship bicycle distribution programme for Class IX students from Sabuj Sathi to SARATHI, marking a new phase in the implementation of the scheme. Alongside the rebranding, authorities have launched the student verification process to ensure that bicycles reach only eligible beneficiaries.

According to official guidelines, headmasters and headmistresses of all participating schools have been instructed to log in to the SARATHI portal and verify the profiles of eligible students. During the verification process, schools are allowed to update only the student's residential address and mobile number. Any correction to other personal details will require fresh data entry in the system.

Schools have also been directed to verify whether a student has previously received a bicycle under any government scheme. This verification has been made mandatory before the beneficiary list can be approved, helping prevent duplication and ensuring accurate records.

Once the verification process is complete, schools must submit the information through the portal by clicking "Submit" followed by "Finalize." After the data is finalised, no further modifications will be allowed.

The verified information will then be examined by officials at the Sub-Inspector (SI), Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI), and District Inspector (DI) levels before receiving final approval. Only after this validation process is completed will the next phase of bicycle distribution begin.

Following approval, a Distribution Muster Roll will be generated, and bicycle delivery points will be identified across blocks and municipalities to facilitate smooth distribution.

The government has also instructed schools to upload complete distribution records to the SARATHI portal after bicycles are handed over to students. In addition, hard copies of all distribution records must be preserved for future audit and administrative purposes.

According to sources in Nabanna, detailed operational guidelines are being circulated to district authorities to ensure uniform implementation of the revamped scheme. The government says the introduction of the SARATHI portal is aimed at improving transparency, strengthening beneficiary verification, and streamlining the bicycle distribution process for eligible students across West Bengal.