The Times of India           05.02.2014

Girl students of NMC high schools to get money for bicycles

NASHIK: The Nashik Municipal Corporation's (NMC) education department will give money to select girl students of municipal secondary schools to purchase bicycles. The proposal is likely to be cleared in a week.

The civic body had shortlisted around 519 beneficiaries for bicycles under a scheme of the women and child welfare department.

Deputy municipal commissioner (education) Dattatreya Gotise, who is also the administrative in-charge of the Woman and Child Welfare Department said, "We will give money to the beneficiaries on purchase of the bicycle. The management committee of the school including the parents and teachers association and the headmaster/headmistress will be in charge of this. The money will be handed over after the student will show them the new bicycle and the payment receipt."

Earlier, the civic body taken a decision to purchase the bicycles and then give it to beneficiaries. However, they have now decided to give the amount for the bicycle to the beneficiary. The civic body had made a budget provision of Rs 35 lakh this year to provide bicycles to its girl students studying in high school and living outside the radius of three kilometres from the school. The NMC had initiated a survey in August to identify beneficiaries for the scheme.

Speaking about the change in the decision, an NMC official said, "The process got delayed because many changes had to be made in documents. Now if we buy the bicycles and hand it over to the girls, it will take more time. If they are to buy them, they can do so by their choice."

Assistant municipal commissioner (education) Vasudha Kurnawal said that each beneficiary will be getting around Rs 3,000 for the bicycle. "The girls should be able to buy good quality bicycles. We have identified 519 beneficiaries and have already completed all the formalities," she said.