Date:25/09/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/09/25/stories/2008092560530400.htm

Karnataka - Bangalore

Bhagyalakshmi bonds distributed

Staff Reporter

Value of bond increased to Rs. 1 lakh

Bond of Rs. 20,000 yields Rs. 1 lakh when girl turns 18
It can be pledged for educational loan up to Rs. 50,000

Bangalore: As part of the Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS), officials from the Women and Child Welfare Department and C.V. Raman Nagar MLA S. Raghu on Wednesday distributed Bhagyalakshmi bonds to 45 children of the area.

The State Government recently enhanced the value of Bhagyalakshmi bond to Rs. 1 lakh from Rs. 40,000 so that a girl child born in a poor family could pursue education. A bond of Rs. 20,000 would yield Rs. 1 lakh when the girl turns 18. The girl can pledge the bond to get an educational loan of up to Rs. 50,000 for studies after 12th standard.

The bonds were distributed at a function organised by Sumangali Sevashram of Kodihalli Division in the Sree Shakti Ganapathy Kalyana Mantapa on BEML Main Road in New Thippasandra.

More than 30 anganwadi workers of Kodihalli division, who have designed some pre-school educational teaching aids, put up an exhibition of the tools at the Kalyana Mantapa.

‘Nutritious food’

Members used the occasion to observe “nutritious food” week. Several nutritious dishes made using commonly available ingredients were displayed for public view.

Apart from the MLA, Deputy Director of Women and Child Welfare Chidanand Murthy, Programme Officer Manjula Kumar, Child Development Project Officer Veena Harish and Supervisor A.G. Shanta were present.