Patna,(BiharTimes): In what many may interprete as an election-eve exercise the Bihar government on Monday said it was considering a plan to distribute tablets to three crore girls and women living below poverty line. The aim of this massive programme is to educate them to get literate.

According to the State Minister for Information and Technology Shahid Ali Khan a Rs 7,000-crore plan had been drawn up for the purpose, which would be taken to Cabinet soon for approval. He said he had discussion with Chief Minister Nitish Kumar in this regard.

The minister explained that the beneficiaries would be chosen from those clearing a small test conducted by Aganwadi and Vasudha Kendras after a training programme spanning two months.

However, political observers and experts are surprised by the inflated figure of three crore girls and women belonging to below poverty line in the state, who can use these tablets. They are of the view that it is just an election-eve exercise.

“After all there are just over five crore female in Bihar, which has the population of about 10.40 crore. Of this not more than three crore are in the age group of 10 to 50, that is, mature enough to use tablets. Even if 70 per cent of women in this age group are below poverty line their total number would be much less,” said one of them.

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