More undergraduate students to get free laptops

BENGALURU: More beneficiaries are set to be added to the free laptop scheme announced by the state higher education department for undergraduate students. The state government is contemplating revising the income limit with regard to who can avail of the scheme. According to information available with the department of higher education, discussions are under way to increase the annual income limit from the present `2.5 lakh to `6 lakh per annum.

“If this works out and the income limit is revised, then there will be 10 per cent increase in the number of beneficiaries. According to the current  estimates, we need to place orders for 1.5 lakh laptops and if the income  limit is increased then 10 per cent will be added to that  number,” a senior official of the state department of collegiate education said.

State government had announced the free laptop scheme for all undergraduate students in the 2017 annual budget and  allocated `225 crore for the same. Earlier this scheme was open only to SC/ST students.
“The scheme doesn’t cover those who are studying B.Ed, Law, Agriculture  and veterinary courses. In Engineering, Polytechnic and Medical courses,  those who have opted for seats under government quota will get the benefit.  When it comes to general degree courses, everything will be covered,” an official said.

However, students studying B.Ed, Law and Agriculture are now demanding that the state government include them in the scheme. “We wonder why the government kept us out of the scheme?  Most of us are preparing for civil service examinations and we will make better use of the laptops,” said a student studying BSc  agriculture course in GKVK. In its present form, the free laptop scheme caters to all undergraduate students at private, government and aided  colleges.

Tenders for more computers

Supply of laptops for the newly-included students will be delayed as the  department of collegiate education has not received request tenders from the state government. Officials added that they have been waiting for the state government to mention some technical specifications before inviting tenders.  “The scheme got cabinet clearance in August. However, there are some issues that need to be cleared at the government’s level. After getting certain specifications, we need to call for tenders, negotiate with them and then give orders. Once the tender is finalised, they will be a two-month deadline to supply the laptops,” a senior official said.

2 different kinds of laptops

Inclusion of engineering and polytechnic students has necessitated distribution of laptops of different technical  specifications for these students studying professional courses. In all, two kinds of laptops would be distributed. During the 2016 academic year, the higher education department worked out a `14,600 cost per laptop deal meant for SC/ST students. However, there were some issues with the laptops. The department asked the supplier to fix the same. Officials  said that the laptops that were promised last year would be given to the  students in a couple of weeks.