Goa CM Pramod Sawant distributes bicycles to school children in hinterland

PANAJI: The state government intends to provide bicycles to every child in the hinterland who has no access to a bus to attend school.
Chief minister Pramod Sawant said that his government has plans for a tie-up with the corporates, through CSR activity, to make this happen.
"We have already provided around 1000 children with cycles. Now, through the CSR programme, we would like to provide cycles to those children having no access to any means of transport in rural Goa," he said.
He was speaking after distributing bicycles to school children mainly belonging to the scheduled tribe community, as part of the CSR activity of RBL Bank, in Porvorim on Tuesday. Social welfare minister Subhash Phal Dessai, EDC chairman Sadanand Shet Tanavade, and school teachers besides, the beneficiaries were present at the occasion.
Sawant also said that it is his government's endeavour to turn the state into 'Green Goa' and that e-vehicles and those run on CNG would be promoted.
Sawant urged the corporate sector to be liberal in funding such projects under CSR activity.
Stating that some corporates have already been contributing in the fields of agriculture and pisciculture, he called upon them to support the Green Goa initiative.
Commenting on the initiative, R Subramaniakumar, Managing Director and CEO, RBL Bank, said, “True to our mission of ‘Community as the Cause’, we stand fully committed to help the marginalized communities with our unique CSR outreach programmes. By facilitating access to education, we can break down barriers that prevent young girls from achieving their dreams.”
The beneficiaries were identified by the bank directly with the support of the ministry of social welfare, Goa.