"It takes us around 30-40 minutes to walk to school daily. Cycles would definitely save time," said Priyanka Balilonde, a ninth standard student. The programme was held at the Mahatma Phule Wada on Sunday to mark the birth anniversary (on January 3) of Savitribai Phule, a 19 th century reformer, who was responsible for building the first school for girls in the city at a time when education for a girl was considered taboo.

"Though our priority was 8th and 9th standard students, we have given bicycles to 10th standard girls as well," said Maitreyi Shankar, the coordinator of KKPKP for this event. "Most of the children go to corporation schools till seventh standard which are in the basti itself. It's only from 8th standard that they have to walk quite a distance or take a bus to get to school. Either ways, it takes a lot of time," said Shanker.