Online education has already started in Maharashtra but this ‘online education’ is not reaching to every single child in the state. Many children in the state are still not able to buy smartphones or laptop to get online education.

Now, the Pune Zilla Parishad has requested local residents to donate used or old used smartphones, tablet, TV or laptop to the schools. These objects can be given to poor children to get online education.

Pune ZP Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Ayush Prasad said, "We appeal to all if you have any old/used Android mobile phone/smart TV/ tablet/laptop or computer which is in working condition, donate it to schools so that it can be given to poor children and they can be brought to the mainstream by providing online education,"

Due to the coronavirus crisis, it is not possible to start schools, he further said. "However, it's important to continue education for students. Providing them online education is a better option and in order to do that, related material has been made available to teachers," the CEO said.

Over 50 per cent of students in Pune's rural areas belong from a poor background and none of them has any facilities to get online education. "For the Education Department, a coordinator should be appointed for this purpose and his name and mobile number shall be provided to the Zilla Parishad office," CEO added. 

A co-ordinating officer at taluka level has been selected for this purpose. In May, Pune ZP’s Education department had finished the admission process for its schools using an online portal, instead of a system that requires parents and students to visit the schools.