First batch of low cost computers ready

Updated on: Thursday, June 09, 2011

The first batch of 10,000 low cost access-cum-computing devices will be ready for distribution to the States later this month. The devices are in the process of testing.

Launched under the National Mission on Education through Information and Communication Technology under the Ministry of Human Resource Development, each device will cost Rs. 2,200. The learners will get it at a fifty per cent subsidy.

These computers will be accessible to 20 crore students across the country and the total cost is expected to be approximately Rs. 10,000 crore, including a 50 per cent subsidy component. Manufactured by an Indian company, the computers will reach Indian Institute of Technology, Rajasthan – which is the nodal centre for distribution -- soon after which the modalities would be worked out to have these devices tested in all climatic conditions of the country.

The Ministry is expected to distribute about one lakh such devices to States from where these would be made available to students enrolled in educational institutions. Each State will get 3,000 such devices. The device was launched in July last year when the price quoted was Rs 1,500.

The Centre on Wednesday asked the States to give suggestions with regard to working out the modalities for testing and field trial of these devices like the number of such devices needed for testing, the number of institutions where such devices could be sent for testing, feedback mechanism so that these could be considered for modifications, if necessary, and designation of a nodal point for coordination of testing and field trial activities.

The device has a 7 inch touch screen, USB ports, battery back up, external hard drive or memory support up to 32GB, headphone, solar charger support, Youtube playback, MP4, video streaming and video conferencing facility, remote printing client, web browser with javascript support.

The three cardinal principles of the Education Policy -- access, equity and quality – could be well served by providing connectivity to all colleges and universities, providing low-cost and affordable access-cum-computing devices to students and teachers and providing high quality e-content free of cost to all learners in the country, Union Human Resource Development Minister Kapil Sibal told a meeting of the State Education Ministers here while announcing the details of the scheme and seeking their suggestions.

First batch of low cost computers ready

More Education news