Tamil Nadu Chief Minister O Panneerselvam distributed free bicycles to beneficiaries at an event.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister O Panneerselvam formally implemented a free bicycle scheme today for students of class XI, which will cost an approximate Rs 244 crore to the state's exchequer. Additionally, keeping the harvest festival of 'Pongal' in mind, the government also announced a free dhoti and saree scheme.
The bicycle scheme was introduced by late Chief Minister Jayalalithaa in the 2001-2002 academic session to help Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe students. It was later expanded to include students of all schools receiving financial aid from the state government. Mr Panneerselvam distributed seven bicycles to students to formally kickstart the initiative at an event in Chennai.
The Chief Minister also distributed sets of sarees and dhotis to seven families at the Secretariat in the presence of ministers and senior officials, according to a statement.
The dhoti and saree scheme was introduced by AIADMK founder MG Ramachandran in 1983. It was aimed toward helping the poor besides providing them jobs in the textile and handloom industry. Mr Panneerselvam stated that the government will spend around Rs 487 crore to distribute 3.24 crore dhotis and sarees to the deserving beneficiaries, in view of Pongal.
Mr Panneerselvam was sworn-in as Tamil Nadu Chief Minister following the demise of AIADMK chief J Jayalalithaa on December 5, 2016.
(With inputs from PTI)