The dream of making available an inexpensive computer for large number of Indian students has finally come true. Experts of the Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur, Kharagpur, Madras and India Institute of Science, Bangalore have worked together and produced a lap-top that costs only Rs.1,500. In other words, the lap top costs less than a mobile phone.
The lap top will be available for even less price for the students as purchases made by educational institutions will get a 50% central subsidy, bringing down the price to Rs. 750. Under Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan alone, there are more than 11 crore children, who are the likely recipients. Add to that lakhs of aided and unaided schools in the primary and secondary sector. Even university student can use the machine. As a computing device it performs all the functions of a conventional computer, but only its speed will be somewhat slow.
The huge demand for a cheap lap top is one of the major reasons for the lap top being priced so low. Initially it will be manufactured in Taiwan. The Central Government has made an open invitation to any one to manufacture it in India, provided they match the Rs.1500 price.
The lap-top development is part of the National Mission on Education through Information, Communication & Technology, which aims to provide low cost and affordable access to computers for students and teachers.
Linkage to scheme:
National Mission on Education through ICT, Ministry of Human Resources Development, Government of India
source-pib
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