The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Boys will also get the benefit

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Jul 12, 2005

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Boys will also get the benefit

S. Dorairaj

EARLY BENEFICIARIES: Students of Backward and Most Backward Classes who were presented with bicycles in January 2005. — Photo:V. Ganesan

CHENNAI: : The State Government on Monday extended the free cycle scheme at a cost of Rs. 66 crores for 3.65 lakh boys of the Adi Dravidar, Scheduled Tribes, Backward Classes, Most Backward Classes and denotified communities, studying in Standards XI and XII in government and aided schools.

In a statement here, Chief Minister Jayalalithaa said the scheme was aimed at encouraging the boys to continue higher secondary education. It would come into force this academic year.

She introduced the scheme in 2001 for the Adi Dravidar and Scheduled Tribe girl students of Standards XI and XII. As it encouraged them to continue their studies without any interruption, besides helping them to be independent, the scheme was extended last year to girls of the Backward Classes, Most Backward Classes and denotified communities.

As many as 4.64 lakh girls had so far benefited and during 2005-2006, 2.10 lakh more girls would be given free cycles. Now that the scheme had been extended to boys too, the number of beneficiaries rose to 5.75 lakhs.

The Government would earmark Rs.103.50 crores for the scheme this year, she said.

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