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This is an archive article published on July 5, 2013
Laptops pile up,govt proposes distribution without Akhilesh
The SP governments free laptop scheme is facing two unexpected stumbling blocks Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadavs busy schedule and the ongoing rainy season that are holding up laptop distribution ceremonies in various districts.
The SP governments free laptop scheme is facing two unexpected stumbling blocks Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadavs busy schedule and the ongoing rainy season that are holding up laptop distribution ceremonies in various districts.
Nearly 2 lakh laptops have already piled up in godowns. Another 4 lakh laptops are expected to be sent by Hewlett Packard (HP) to the districts by the end of this month. In this situation,the Secondary Education Department has sent a proposal to the CM requesting that the minister in- charge of the districts be allowed to distribute the laptops so that the scheme can pick up pace.
According to sources,the department has moved the proposal because of two reasons the busy schedule of Akhilesh,who has so far distributed only 80,000 laptops; and the problems in organising distribution functions for the CM in the rainy season.
Officials said grand preparations are required if Akhilesh distributes laptops. In the monsoon season,making arrangements for the CM to distribute laptops to several thousand students is challenging, an official said.
Besides,the monsoon session of the Assembly will begin soon. Then Akhilesh will not get enough time to tour nearly 60 districts to distribute laptops, the official added.
According to the proposal,small-scale events could be held in school halls,where ministers-in-charge can distribute laptops in the presence of MLAs and other public representatives.
Storage of laptops is also a major worry for the district administration. In the rainy season,safe storage is proving to be a major challenge. Hundreds of laptops meant for free distribution were soaked in rain water in a strong room in Lakhimpur Kheri district last month, said an official.
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When contacted,Special Secretary,Secondary Education,Chaitra V said he knew of no such proposal.
The SP government had launched the scheme to distribute free laptops among students who have passed Class XII in 2012 and are pursuing higher education. Akhilesh has so far distributed 80,000 laptops in districts including Ferozabad,Chitrakoot,Etawah,Mahoba,Lucknow,Bareilly,Ghaziabad and Gautam Buddha Nagar. The distribution was launched in Lucknow on March 11. The last distribution was in Firozabad on June 24.
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