Uttarakhand Chief Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank has expressed dissatisfaction over the delay in implementation of a free laptop scheme to meritorious students in the state and asked the education department to take necessary steps for its speedy execution.

During a meeting held last evening, Nishank expressed unhappiness over the "unnecessary delay" in the implementation of the scheme to high school students scoring above 80 per cent and directed officials to present a proposal of the budget at the earliest so that laptops can be provided during the current academic session, an official release said in the state cpital.

Education Secretary Manisha Panwar said nearly 450 students securing 80 percent and above marks in high school and intermediate would be benefited from the free laptop scheme.

Nishank also directed officials to ensure that no school remains closed due to unavailability of teachers and asked them to make alternative arrangements in place of those teachers, who are on training, etc, the release said.