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Technology for these small devices has been developed by IISC, Bangalore and IIT Madras. "But lot of testing has to be done to ensure that the technology works properly. Once the testing is over, the computers will be made available on commercial basis. The target is to make it available in six months time," Higher Education Secretary, Ministry of HRD, R P Agrawal said reporters in New Delhi on Thursday.
The computer will be a small equipment with expandable memory, LAN and Wi-Fi facilities. The government will also produce e-content on every subject which will be made available free of cost.
A prototype computer has been designed which is being tested now. "Its cost will be USD 10. If the parents want to gift something to their kids, they can easily purchase this item and gift them," he said.
Students can get the e-content feed and load them in their computers and take advantage of the materials. The government will provide these computers to educational institutions at a subsidised price, Agrawal said.
The government is in the process of consultation with different agencies for production of these computers and are seeking collaboration with them. These computers can run at two WT power. "The ultimate target is to have a Virtual Technological University," Agrawal said.
The low-cost computers are being developed under the central scheme -- National Mission on Education through Information Communication Technology (ICT).
The ICT scheme envisages providing broadband connectivity to about 20,000 institutions, including 100 central educational institutions, in the country.
Institutions run by state governments and private agencies will have to bear 25 per cent of the cost for the broadband connectivity.
There are about 15,000 institutions in the country which do not have any connectivity and they will get five MBPS connectivity, Agrawal said. "The purpose is that the scheme will bridge the digital divide between institutions," he said.
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) has already approved the scheme which aims to use ICT in providing personalised and interactive knowledge modules to students, a step aimed at increasing enrollment rate by five per cent in higher education in the 11th Plan.
The scheme would cost Rs 4,612 crore in the 11th Plan. "About 40 per cent of the fund will be spent on developing e-content. The e-content will be provided free to the institutions and students," he said.
About 10,000 departments of 420 universities will be benefited by the project. The scheme will be launched at Tirupati on February three.
However, this scheme will be different from National Knowledge Network (NKN) being launched by the Department of Telecommunication. The NKN will provide high capacity connectivity to premier institutions.
After the ICT scheme is in place, students will get lectures offered by IIT professors online and could even get their doubts cleared.
There is a plan to start 100 educational channels beaming them through EDUSAT, Agrawal said. These channels will spread education in remote and inaccessible areas.
The government is also starting 1,000 polytechnics at a cost of Rs 6,858 crore. It has released Rs 100 crore for starting 50 such institutions in the first phase.
At present, there are about 1,250 polytechnics in the country with an intake for about 4.5 lakh students.
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sir best opinion to help middle class family, sir iwant to buy laptop for 500rs only this contact number 9347118543 plese contact me
this laptop is only a promise of govt of india which will be fulfilled after 5 or 6 years ,stop dreaming for it...dont daydream
I think its great to take knowledge to every household and help students get feed on every subject while sitting home,and i think that the government is set to make available low-cost computers.
hey techies help build of the shelf cheap computer .naturally it will have to be public domaine open architecture.Flashdrive with 8 gig memor$6.add a inexpensive processor,small screen like sidekick,some indian Jugad and you have a computer with hard drive for 50 dollars .What an achievement.Do it .you build they will come .Learning software gift of our nation.If we fail we keep on buying microsoft software and chinese machines.Software can be the solution.Let the future remember us for this contribution as some have given us credit for concept of Zero.
i want to buy rs.500 laptop
this is a nice initiative by govt.i want a pc tooo...
I have a hard time in believing this story though I do hope it's true. But I do think these are just gimmicks to lure the public and sidetrack the real problems (teacher absenteism, bad infrastructure, etc.)
It is a great opportunities to IIT students ,But this opportunities should be given to all colleges in INDIA.The most important i would like to say the computers
Such announcements are ones of hope over fact - if only one goes back some years and recall the hype over the Simputer - where is it now? Then again IIT M and Prof Junjunwalla claimed to have a developed a low cost ATM - how many of us have seen that machine? Perhaps it is better to announce such 'breakthroughs' after they are indeed breakthroughs. Persons with long memories will recall the breakthrough bullock cart of Proferssor Ramaswamy formerly of IIM Bangalore - not many on the road huh? Spare all of us the hype and then the disappointment.
It's been revolutionary step taken by the Government. a middle class person can buy this laptop for his children's. but while providing accessibility to proper precautionary measures should be taken looking hazards of it's misuse. it will also be good that all the institutions will connected through internet and institutions can provide an official email id to all of its faculties and staffs.
It is not the govn but the IIT's which are doing the right thing by providing world class education to people. I think it sholud reach to villages also.The govn should concentrate on providing better network connectivity to all villages, so the poor people get benifited.
This is not a new scheme. The DMK Govt in Tamil Nadu had announced the Free TV Scheme on their Victory Ithink that the Central Government has taken a cue from theTN Government. In any case why don't you ensure that students get books and a decent school premises to study in the first place instead of this hare brianed scheme ?
i feel it is possible. I witnessed an auction of disused older versions computers, a lot of about 150 machines, could not find a buyer for a reserve price of Rs.500 for whole lot.
I heard our MP's were attending a magic show recently and the guy was pulling a rabit from his hat .That's when the idea flashed to one of our most brilliant MP!!1 and then they came up with this idea of pulling computer from hat .Actually the rumour is it costs less than RS 500!!!
This is fantstic news as well. 1250 polytecs with 4.5 lacs students. This will provide a massive base for the poeple to learn trades like in Europe and improve a lot technical work. However, like in the UK and Australia these polytec studies should lead to Higher National Diploma and receivers of the HND should be allowed (Like in the UK) to follow a Bachelors Degree course. I am also for online based studies. The educators must learn the good things being done in the education fields in the UK and replicate them in India. The Govt. must also urge private investors to open more polytecs.
Hey guys I think this is misprint.The amount must have been said in US Dollars.For 500 IRs you won't get even an empty computer case/box.Moreover such ridiculous promises are always made before elections.All bloody lies and tantalizing promises.
Hats off to central govt for its plan to provide computers a rs 500.This is s highly laudable scheme and all qudos to govt for its initiative. will be greatest booon to studt community
If something is too good to be true, it is....
Guess What comes next.Satellite for 100 Dollars!!!
A few years ago there was a lot of uproar about the 'Simputer'; a handheld computer that was designed at the IISc. That turned out to be all smoke and mirrors.is this project related?The Indian Government turned down the OLPC $100 laptop project, when we could have been one of the major supporters and gained from the project. Reliance is now the OLPC (One Laptop Per Child) partner in India.We should participate in the OLPC project officially instead of dreaming up schemes like this $10 subsidized computer, which will probably be delivered late, in small quantities, and be buggy; not to say that no one will ever write quality software for it as there is no commercial scope here.
sounds great!! Hope it will come soon and without any scam.
i strong believe there is another great scam is avaitng through this news. another big financial and political uncertainity is ready to errupt. get ready guys.Hungry politicians r ready to grab it with both the hands whether it is current government or coming government. a great news for them and a sad news for us.Because nothing in country happens with our political fraud..... so get ready to hear abt another big scam guys
Great to read the article. With nuclear electric power on route, I believe we will have enough power to run these. Open source is always welcomed. These may not be like a common PC we have been used to, but could be a touch screen( i really dont know how much that would cost though!!!) that links only the e-content as stated in the article. Scams are everywhere, but that should not stop us from thinking and moving ahead. So shall we keep walking towards a better tomorrow, guys?
It is all our tax money. For each computer take Rs 500/- from parents and remaining Rs.9500/- from a stupid tax payer.For god's sake, first provide good primary education.
i think its gret start..wel..i been to USA, and there local chapels who gets charity they giv free wifi conectivity to there local people..if same thing one of our temples and chapel wil tk resposibilty then this 500 rs computeer is worth..and will help childrens..to make strong india..think positive..isted of taking from india giv somthing to india..and i m giving..thanks...god bless u all..mahendra pawar