The Karnataka government is working hard to provide access to digital forms of education to the students of the state. The CM of the state recently distributed free laptops to SC/ST students who are pursuing professional and PG courses in the state. These laptops have inscribed upon it a total of two stickers - one is the Karnataka government state logo and the other is a picture of CM Siddaramaiah.
Scheduled Caste & Schedule Tribe students of the state have been given 14-inch screen Acer laptops with a Windows 10 version, Intel quad processor, 1TB hard drive and 4GB RAM. The laptops were purchased through a tender process for an amount close to Rs. 45 crore - with each costing Rs 14,490.
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The laptops that have been purchased to meet the requirements in a total of 412 state colleges and 85 polytechnics in Karnataka.
H. Anjaneya, Minister of Social Welfare, clarified that free laptops would be provided only to SC/ST students who take up higher education through government quota. Currently, the students who are pursuing the first year of postgraduate or professional courses are eligible to get free laptops.
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He also mentioned that the free laptops to SC/ST students will also be provided to those who clear the Common Entrance Test (CET). He revealed that the department would use the funds which are collected under the specific act for the SC/ST community, TSP and SC/SP to purchase laptops. He assured that best quality laptops would be provided to the students.
Recently, Government of Andhra Pradesh has also revealed that it would offer free smartphones to students pursuing UG and PG courses at various colleges and universities across the state. The government has taken this initiative as a part of its efforts to develop Digital Andhra Pradesh. The proposal for distributing smartphones was made at the Cabinet meeting recently.
Initiatives like these by the government will promote digital literacy and efficiency in the education system.