The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Governor stresses on education

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Thursday, Jan 31, 2008
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Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

Governor stresses on education

Special Correspondent

A programme to distribute free bicycles to schoolchildren from BPL launched

Photo: V Sreenivasa Murthy.

Governor Rameshwar Thakur distributing cycles to government aided school students at Raj Bhavan in Bangalore on Wednesday.

BANGALORE: Now 4.35 lakh children in Karnataka can pedal to school during this academic year. Beaming with joy, schoolchildren rode their bicycles in front of Governor Rameshwar Thakur at the Raj Bhavan on Wednesday.

The Governor launched a programme to distribute free bicycles to schoolchildren from below poverty line (BPL) families studying in eighth standard in government and aided schools in the State for 2007-08.

The programme was started in 2006-07, and 1.75 lakh bicycles were distributed in that year at a cost of Rs. 35 crore.Speaking after handing over bicycles to a few children, Mr. Thakur said it was a challenging task to educate children from BPL families. Because of socio-economic reasons some parents were unable to send their children to schools. “They feel that sending the child to school would deprive the family of income,”

he said.

Education alone could bring about tremendous improvement in the progress of the nation. “Providing bicycles is one such effort by the Government in addition to other programmes like midday meals, distribution of free textbooks and uniforms, providing scholarships and many more,” the Governor said.

The purpose of the programme was to instil courage and confidence among the children that they can cover long distances to reach schools without anybody’s help. The programme would improve the rate of admission and attendance in classes. In 2007-08, Rs. 90 crore had been provided for distribution of 4.35 lakh bicycles for both boys and girls who were in eighth standard.

Bicycles would be distributed to 2,21,300 girls and 2,13,700 boys. With the exception of children residing in city corporation limits, he said all other children of BPL families would receive the benefit. “It is expected that this effort will help in retention of students in classrooms,” the Governor said.

Stating that more steps needed to be taken for improving the quality of education, the Governor said for slow learners, the Department of Public Instruction had taken up the programme of remedial coaching in schools. Eligible girls and boys would receive bicycles. As many as 114 schoolchildren from Koppal, Dharwad, Haveri, Davangere, Chitradurga, Tumkur, Mandya, Mysore, Chickballapur, Ramangara, and Bangalore Rural districts received bicycles from the Governor on Wednesday.

Welcoming the gathering, T.M. Vijay Bhaskar, Secretary, Primary and Secondary Education, said that already two lakh bicycles had reached various taluk headquarters and students would avail themselves of the benefit soon. The remaining bicycles would be supplied to schools by February 15, he said.

Chief Secretary P.B. Mahishi; the Governor’s adviser P.P. Prabhu; Commissioner, Department of Public Instruction, G. Kumar Naik and officials of the Education Department were present.

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