MP CM makes pro-poor announcements

Bhopal, June 27 (UNI) Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan today made several announcements for students of poor families of the general category taking admission in middle, high, higher secondary schools and professional courses.

These pertain to scholarships, free distribution of textbooks, cycles and monetary incentive. Employment-related facilities would be announced on July 8, an official release said here.

''I disagree with the present definition of poverty line. The state Commission for Welfare of the Poor of General Category will organise a workshop of subject experts to actually define poverty,'' Mr Chouhan said while addressing a convention -- for welfare of the poor of the general category -- organised at his residence here.

State Social Justice Minister Kusum Mehadele presided over the function.

''The Swami Vivekananda pre-matric and post-matric scholarships, Sudama Stipend Scheme, Veerangana Lakshmibai Cycle Scheme, Dr A P J Abdul Kalam Meritorious Students' Incentive Scheme and Vikramaditya Free Education Scheme will be implemented,'' said Mr Chouhan.

A higher education loan guarantee fund known as Ma Saraswati Akshay Kosh would be set up to facilitate meritorious and talented poor students to obtain education loans.

Under the Acharya Vidyasagar Gau Samvardhan Yojana, 10,000 women would be associated with cow-rearing. Initially, one district would be selected in each division and 1,000 women would be provided two high-breed cows each, the release added.

UNI AC 1952