Govt helps students break the digital divide -Governance Now

Govt helps students break the digital divide

Now, MHRD will be making low-cost computing devices available for students at Rs 1,500

Jasleen Kaur | July 22, 2010

Students will soon have access to a low cost computing device. HRD minister Kapil Sibal on Thursday unveiled a low cost computing-cum-access device, the price of which is expected to be around 35$, around Rs 1500 per piece. On the launch of this device, Sibal said,"This is part of our national effort for taking forward the agenda of inclusive education."

The device, which is charged through solar panel, does not have a hard disc but supports the video web conferencing facility, multimedia content viewer, other computing capabilities, media player, Internet browsing and multimedia input output interface option. "The speed of this device might be slow but it has the basic technology that a student would require," Sibal added.

A number of teams have worked with the ministry on improving upon design parameters and customization guidance for Indian students. The ministry started its efforts by holding discussions on this concept with experts at IISc Bangalore, IIT Kanpur, IIT Kharagpur, IIT Madras and IIT Bombay. And later B.Tech and M.Tech students were guided to produce the mother board for such low cost device. Initial cost of the device came to 47 $ and substantially it was reduced to 35$.

Ministry aims to gradually drop down the price to $20 and ultimately to $10 a piece. "This is just the breakthrough. We want to further reduce the price to 10$ per computer," Sibal said.

With this low cost device ministry aims to reach to students of colleges and universities and to provide these institutions a host of choices of low cost access devices. The device is expected to be commercially available by 2011 and at subsidised cost for students and institutes. "Our priority is that it should reach to every learner, be it a student studying in a primary class or in an university," Sibal said.

Connectivity to universities and colleges has already started. Nearly 8500 colleges across the country have been connected. Also, under the National Programme on Technology Enhanced Learning (NPTEL), nearly 500 web based and video courses are available and uploaded on “sakshat”, YouTube and NPTEL portals.

Comments

Other News

Cabinet approves museum at North-South Block complex

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by prime minister Narendra Modi, on Wednesday has approved the development of the Yuge Yugeen Bharat Museum (YYBM) at the North and South Block Complex, New Delhi, at an estimated total project cost of ₹3,230 crore, as appraised by the Public Investmen

Cabinet approves extension of Noida metro corridor

The Union Cabinet, chaired by prime minister Narendra Modi, has approved the extension of Aqua Line Metro Rail Corridor from Noida Sector-51 to Greater Noida Sector-04 of Noida Metro Rail Project with corridor for a length of 8.449 km with 5 elevated stations. On operationalization of this corridor, Noid

India reaffirms commitment to climate multilateralism

India has reaffirmed its commitment to climate multilateralism and the principles of Equity and Common But Differentiated Responsibilities and Respective Capabilities (CBDR-RC), calling for a fair, equitable and ambitious outcome at the 31st Conference of the Parties (COP31) to the United Nations Framewo

How the mind can help the body heal itself

Why do some people recover from illness against all odds? Can our beliefs, emotions and consciousness influence the body’s ability to heal? Drawing on over three decades of experience in medicine, research and medical innovation, internationally trained ophthalmologist and author Dr Dinesh Verma ex

1,364 anti-cancer formulations to cost less from today

The National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA), under the Department of Pharmaceuticals, Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers, has capped trade margins on the Maximum Retail Price (MRP) of 137 anti-cancer drugs. This was based on the recommendations of an Expert Committee constitute

Who checks the books?

I read about the news about the Coimbatore library over coffee this morning. On the face of it, the headline was about a political ‘war’ between the DMK and TVK. But what stayed with me was something much more important than the blame game behind what had transpired. A writer walking through