Free laptops, bicycles for govt school students unlikely this year

Similarly, the much-hyped proposal to distribute cost-effective tabs to Class 8 and 9 students in State-run schools and one laptop per four students of Class 10, 11 and 12 are also set to be held up.The latest data from the Special Programme Implementation Department shows it has proposed to distribute laptops to five lakh students at a cost of over Rs 950 crore in 2020-2021. A senior official from the School Education Department, seeking anonymity, told DT Next that every year the distribution of laptops will begin soon after the schools reopen in June. “The distribution will be completed by October so that Class 11 and 12 students will get enough time to prepare for board exams online,” he said.

Stating that taking into consideration the pandemic situation, a total of five lakh laptops that have to distributed this academic year could not be procured, he said since almost half of the academic year is lost and procurement of laptops through the tender process will consume about four to five months, the distribution is expected to take place only next year.

Hinting that the allocated money might be used for COVID-19 pandemic issues for time being, the official said: “However, if normalcy is restored, authorities would try to procure the laptops and would attempt to distribute them this academic year itself.”

The official said another welfare measure such as the free distribution of bicycles for more than six lakh Class 11 students is also expected to be delayed. However, he said other freebies including uniforms, textbooks, notebooks, and shoes have already been distributed.