Bhubaneswar, July 31: The Odisha government, which is already providing free bicycles to schoolgirls, today decided to extend the benefit of the scheme to all BPL (below poverty line) category boys studying in Class X in government and government-aided schools. It would benefit nearly 1.60 lakh students.

Earlier, the state government was providing free bicycles to only the scheduled caste and scheduled tribe boys studying in these schools in the scheduled areas.

Besides the bicycles, the state government is also providing free school uniforms to all the boys and girls up to Class VIII in the scheduled areas of the state.

“The free distribution of bicycles among all students will certainly help boost the literacy rate in the state,” said an official.

The new scheme of the state government is expected to bring in rich political dividends for the ruling Biju Janata Dal.