Kerala: Two PSUs step in to bridge digital divide

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Smartphones, tablets and laptops have become the need of the hour for school students instead of books, water bottles, umbrellas and school bags, ever since the government launched e-classes due to Covid-19 outbreak.
In the wake of unavailability of affordable devices in the market for the low- and middle-income families, two government public sector undertakings have decided to help their staff purchase the digital devices at an affordable cost.
The Kerala Irrigation Infrastructure Development Corporation (KIIDC) and the Kerala Shipping and Inland Navigation Corporation (KSINC) have extended interest-free loans up to Rs 21,000 for their employees for buying the e-learning devices. The PSUs have also entered into negotiations with another government firm, Coconics, a private-public partnership company supported by the state government, to supply educational laptops at Rs 11,000 per unit.
The PSUs have also negotiated with another private player to supply the devices for the employees.
“The idea came when one of our casual employee was heard requesting another one for a spare smartphone for the education of his child. When we inquired, the availability of gadgets in the market had also come down due to huge demand and the supply chain disruption in China,” managing director of KSINC and KIIDC, N Prasanth said. Also, many of the parents are in office and they may not be able to share their smartphones with their children. Hence, most families are feeling the requirement of an additional gadget, Prasanth said.
The employees can either purchasing the devices from negotiated suppliers or any other suppliers of their choice, by availing the interest-free loans.
While employees above the pay scale of Rs 35,000 can avail up to Rs 15, 000 as loan, those in the pay-scale below Rs 35,000 will be offered a loan up to Rs 21,000. The loans will be repayable from August in 12-15 instalments.
While the model of the educational laptop manufactured by Coconics is pending for BIS approval, (expected in another three months), the company has agreed to provide another laptop at the same rate, which can be returned once the educational model is supplied.