MP: Free cycles to SC

Bhopal, Feb 26: Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe girls studying in the sixth standard and higher in Madhya Pradesh will be provided bicycles free of cost, the government announced in the Assembly today.

Presenting the Budget for 2007-08, Finance Minister Raghavji said that about 1.40 lakh girls who had to cover distances of more than a kilometre to reach schools were expected to benefit. About 1.18 lakh girls studying in high schools were benefited under an existing free cycle scheme.

In order to promote girls' education, all girls enrolled upto the eighth standard would be provided free uniforms, while free textbooks would be given to girls enrolled in classes nine to 12.

All primary school students would be given textbooks free of cost, the Minister added.

Bal bhavans on the pattern of the one in the state capital would be set up at all divisional towns. In order to promote computer education, all high schools would be provided Rs 5 lakh each under an ITELL scheme, while an electronic library will be established at the Dr Hari Singh Gaur University, Sagar.

All rural girls passing the higher secondary examination in the first division and pursuing higher education would be provided scholarship under the 'Gaon Ki Beti Yojana', Mr Raghavji said. Development of educational areas of excellence is proposed in four cities with private participation.

UNI