PMC falls short of funds for bicycle scheme
In the civic budget presented earlier this year, the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) had announced a scheme to promote use of bicycle among children by making a financial assistance of Rs 1,000 to the students of Class VI to X studying in schools run by it. However, the civic body is now likely to fall short of funds to implement the scheme, with the education board citing the expenditure to be more than the budgetary allocation of Rs 10 lakh.
The elected representatives had justified the need for the scheme saying it would help in tackling pollution levels and also keep the students fit.
The eligibility criteria for the students to get the financial assistance of Rs 1,000 was that they should be travelling at least 2 km every day to reach school.
In a letter, the PMC education board informed the PMC that with 1,076 students being found eligible under the scheme, the sanctioned amount of Rs 10 lakh would fall short. As the board urged the PMC to sanction the required amount, the civic administration has sought approval for the same from the standing committee.
The PMC has also submitted a proposal to extend its health insurance scheme to ragpickers and sought funds to pay the premiums.
