Chief Minister Jayalalithaa on Friday distributed free bicycles to Plus One students. A total of 6,43,867 students will benefit under the scheme this year.
An official press release said the total cost for the free bicycle scheme for the current year was Rs. 212.43 crore.
The scheme was launched by the AIADMK government in 2011-12 and students from government schools, government-aided schools and partically-aided schools are eligible to benefit under the scheme.
Cash award
The Chief Minister also handed over cash award to students belong to SC/ST, BC and MBC, who had scored first three places in the SSSLC and Plus Two examinations in the State.
Besides inaugurating 14 Arts and Science Colleges in Tamil Nadu through videoconferencing from the Secretariat, Ms. Jayalalithaa released over Rs. 122 crore towards creating infrastructure for these institutions.
Jeeps for forest staff
Ms. Jayalalithaa also distributed 113 jeeps to employees of the forest department.
The forest department was taking effective steps to prevent man-animal conflict, forest fires and to increase the forest cover.
“The jeeps will come in handy in achieving the task,” according to a release.
The cost of the vehicles is Rs. 7.28 crore.
