Students put forward demand for tablet PCs to Siddaramaiah government

Due to the fact that a significant portion of the Karnataka state budget was devoted to fulfilling the poll promises, the Karnataka government has not been in a position to resume the scheme providing the facility of tablet PCs for students of government run Polytechnic, Degree, Medical and Engineering colleges. The scheme was initiated in 2017-2018 by the Siddaramaiah government for SC/ST students. Initially laptops were distributed but after the pandemic struck Tablet PCs were distributed instead. However, since 2022 it has been discontinued owing to a crunch in funds. 

  “These days, all the education institutions offer online classes and online assignments. Most of the course materials are available only online. Laptops or tablet PCs are very important for students. Most of the students studying in the government colleges are from economically and socially backward communities and they can’t bear the cost of laptops or tablet PCs. The government should take a decision to distribute them and help our higher education,” a student said in a conversation with The Hindu. 

M.C Sudhakar, Minister for Technical and Higher Education, has however given an assurance that officials are collecting details about the present scheme and eventually something fruitful would materialise.