K'taka govt releases Rs 35 cr for girls' bikes

The Karnataka government on Monday released Rs 35 crore for purchase of bicycles for girls hailing from families below the poverty line (BPL).

Announcing this at a news conference here, deputy chief minister B S Yediyurappa, who holds the finance portfolio, said the tenders for procurement of the bicycles will be finalised by June 15.

"The distribution of the bicycles to the beneficiaries will commence from July 1. The process of identifying the 1.50 lakh beneficiaries is on," he added.

The programme of providing bicycles to girls was announced in the state budget 2006-07. The bicycles will be given to BPL family girls, who have secured admission into the eighth standard this academic year.