The Punjab government will distribute free bicycles to over one lakh girl students of government schools in the state, as part of a scheme aimed at motivating them for higher education.

Bicycles will be distributed to 1,52,330 girl students under the state government’s flagship programme ‘Mai Bhago Vidya Scheme’ at a state-level function being organised at Jagraon in Ludhiana district on October 25, an official release stated here today.

The cycles will be distributed to students of Classes 11 and 12, it stated.

The government has already released Rs 41.90 crore for procuring these bicycles and decided to distribute them to the girl students at a state-level function in Jagraon.

The scheme is aimed at motivating the girl students for higher education and empowering them, the release said.

The SAD-BJP government had launched this scheme in 2011-12 by distributing 1,11,000 free bicycles worth Rs 30 crore to girl students and it was decided to make it an annual feature.