The PMC corporators had ensured a provision of Rs 6 crore for scholarships and Rs 4 crore for distribution of bicycles to school students,in the civic budget. However,the election code of conduct for the Khadakwasla assembly bypoll has put the initiative on hold. PMC corporators had unanimously approved the budget in which Rs 6 crore was allotted for scholarship to students who score over 80 per cent in Class X and Class XII examinations. The corporators had criticised the administration for going slow on implementing the scheme. The administration had started collecting forms for scholarships,but model code of conduct has put everything on hold. The administration would continue to accept the forms from students who have scored over 80 per cent in the board examination. However,the plan to distribute them next month has to be delayed due to poll code of conduct, said Deputy Municipal Commissioner Dnyaneshwar Molak. He said that the administration would try to distribute scholarships as soon as the bypoll for Khadakwasla assembly seat is over,as the election code for the civic polls could come into force anytime after that. Mayor Mohansingh Rajpal said the administration should have implemented the scheme on priority. The PMC made an announcement of the program by allotting funds in the budget and if its not implemented,citizens would feel cheated, he said. The corporators had also taken initiative to promote non-motorised transport by distributing 50,000 bicycles to students of Class VI to Class X. The PMC has constructed over 100 km cycle tracks but they are not being used. The administration has failed to check encroachment of the tracks and is encouraging school students to use them, he added. The cycle distribution scheme continues to be on paper as there has been no move of the administration to buy and distribute them.
