Some 520 needy pupils in various schools in the province of Khénifra will benefit from a bicycle distribution operation, within the framework of the National Initiative for Rural Development. Sixteen middle schools in the urban communes of Mrirt and rural communes of Oum Errabie, El Hammam, Had Bouhsoussein, Sebt Ait Rahou, Moulay Bouâzza, Aguelmous, Tighessaline, El Hri, Ait Ishaq, Ouaoumana, Krouchen, Sidi Yahia Ousaâd and El Kbab, are concerned by this operation launched, Monday afternoon at the Ibn Al Khatib middle school (30 beneficiaries) in the rural commune of Sidi Lamine by the governor of the province, Mohamed Ali Oukassou in the presence of the heads of external services and local authorities. This operation, the cost of which amounts to more than 580,000 DH financed within the framework of the transversal programme (accompaniment component), aims to encourage schooling and contribute to the fight against school dropout in this predominantly rural province. Thirty-four projects, with a total value estimated at more than 12.3 million dirhams (MDH), have been selected by the Provincial Committee for Human Development (CPDH) within the framework of the transversal programme for the year 2013, it is recalled.