Port Blair, June 27: The Member of Parliament, Shri Bishnu Pada Ray in his letter to the Lt. Governor has stated that in Draft Annual Plan Book- 2013-14 under Education sector Scheme No.3 i.e. Computer Education and other innovative programmes in schools, Free LAPTOPS are to be given, which have been approved by the District Planning Committee, State Plan Board during the year 2011-12. 

The MP explains that during the tenure of the then Chief Secretary, Shri.Vivek Rae and Secretary Education Shri. Bhupender Singh Bhalla this issue was raised by him.  Now as per Plan Book 2013-14 (Page Z-41) it is mentioned that during the year 2012-13 LAPTOP was to be given but this was not achieved due to delay in finalization of Tender and other Administrative reasons.

Under this scheme in the 11^th Five Year Plan there is no allocation of fund and expenditure as per Plan Book (page no.Z-41) and as per Draft Plan Book -2013-14 (page No.Z-1) under Education Sector during 11^th Five Year Plan i.e. 2007-08 to 2011-12 there is an outlay (allocation) of Rs. 500.06 Cr. against which expenditure is Rs. 546.73 Cr.

On 26^th June 2013 in the State Plan Board Meeting, the Member of Parliament had demanded that Free LAPTOPS be given to the students, in presence of Hon’ble Lt. Governor, (Chairman) State Plan Board, Municipal Chairman, Chairperson Zilla Parishad South Andaman & North & Middle Andaman, Chairperson, Social Welfare Advisory Board, all Secretaries and other Senior Officers of the Administration were present in the Meeting.

The MP therefore requested that the LAPTOPS to the students of Class XI of Govt. Schools, JNRM College, Mahatma Gandhi College, B. Ed College, JBT Students, Polytechnic Students etc. be distributed at the earliest, as our per capita expenditure on each students Rs. 47,000/-.