A year over, self-employed yet to get bicycle

BANGALORE: It has been more than a year since Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) promised to distribute bicycles to self-employed people. In the budget presented in August 2010, the  BBMP announced distributing 100 bicycles per ward to those belonging to economically backward, labour classes and self-employed  under ‘Kanakasiri’ programme. BBMP seems to show no interest in giving the bicycles even after a year now. According to a senior councillor, BBMP presented its budget three months ago and  is waiting for a nod from the State Government. “Once the government shows green signal,  BBMP will invite tenders for the works that were approved in the budget 2011. When that is a case, when will BBMP call for the tender for bicycles,” the councillor questioned.When contacted, Mahesh Babu, Chairman of the Standing Committee (Social Justice), said the matter is with the committee. “We will finalise it and by the end of this month or by next month beginning, bicycles will be distributed to self-employed people like newspaper distributing boys, milk vendors, flower vendors and others,” he added.