Port Blair, June 28: With 2014 elections approaching fast, both Congress and Bharatiya Janta Party are placing lucrative demands for general public and the latest among these is distribution of free Laptops to students of A & N Islands.
Recently, Mr. Kuldeep Rai Sharma, President, PCC has requested the Lt Governor of A & N Nicobar Islands to consider distribution of at least 10,000 laptops to the students from Class VIII to XII in the current academic session to begin with.
In his letter Mr. Sharma had pleaded that in other parts of the country the students excel in the field of information technology since they either possess or have easy access to computers right from their education in lower classes.
“But in spite of being very meritorious and intelligent, the students in A&N Islands lag behind their mainland counterparts due to non-availability of laptops or computers,” Sharma said.
However, crying foul the Member of Parliament of A & N Islands, Mr. Bishnu Pada Ray has now issued a letter saying that it was he, who had demanded for Laptop first form administration for Islands students before Congress.
Talking to ‘Andaman Sheekha’ the MP claimed that on 26th June 2013 in the State Plan Board Meeting, the Member of Parliament had actually demanded that Free LAPTOPS be given to the students, in presence of Lt. Governor, (Chairman) State Plan Board, Municipal Chairman, Chairperson Zilla Parishad South Andaman & North & Middle Andaman, Chairperson, Social Welfare Advisory Board, all Secretaries and other Senior Officers of the Administration.
“Draft Annual Plan Book- 2013-14 under Education sector Scheme No.3 i.e. Computer Education and other innovative programmes in schools, Free LAPTOPS are to be given, which have been approved by the District Planning Committee, State Plan Board during the year 2011-12,” the MP said.
He explained that during the tenure of the then Chief Secretary, Mr. Vivek Rae and Secretary Education Mr. Bhupender Singh Bhalla this issue was raised by him.
“Now as per Plan Book 2013-14 (Page Z-41) it is mentioned that during the year 2012-13 LAPTOP was to be given but this was not achieved due to delay in finalization of Tender and other Administrative reasons.
Under this scheme in the 11th Five Year Plan there is no allocation of fund and expenditure as per Plan Book (page no.Z-41) and as per Draft Plan Book -2013-14 (page No.Z-1) under Education Sector during 11th Five Year Plan i.e. 2007-08 to 2011-12 there is an outlay (allocation) of Rs. 500.06 Cr. against which expenditure is Rs. 546.73 Cr,” the MP added.
This is politics, just like mainland. Such offer or scheme provides government before election and they forget after election result. In the websits news its written that the laptop will distribute to studentds from class VII to XII, the people who claimed they have to make sure, how many students are there. I know such offer never provides government. The people who offer such things to innocent people have no idea about laptop, desktop, palmtop… etc and they don’t know who needs really.