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Rural school computer plan on the blink

The government has asked members of Parliament if they could part with their local areas development fund for introducing computer education in schools of rural areas.

T O D A Y

• The Lone Ranger • Software think tank • Rural schools tragedy • The Bengal initiative

Three agencies, including Bharat Computers and Consultants, Micro Computers and AT&T, were selected for the cause.

A BCC sdpokesperson said that they already have a package of Rs 1 million from each MP. They have installed five computers in four schools in each Lok Sabha Constituency with software and all accessories. They have also provided training to students and one or two teachers in each school. The idea is that within a year, two students might get at least an 'o' level training (basic training) in computers. The students belong to classes 10, 11 and 12, he added.

Rajesh Goyal of BCC said that so far they have installed computers in around 100 schools and about 15 MPs have already got the scheme implemented in their areas.

G M Mir Magan, an MP from Jammu and Kashmir, was the first to get the scheme implemented. The others included Munni Ram, Ramashray Prasad Singh, Kamla Sinha and V Bhagat.

BCC implemented the scheme in Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and J&K, he said, adding that around 100 MPs have also asked BCC to implement the scheme in their areas.

Around 100 MPs have approached the other two companies for executing the scheme in their areas. If the scheme is implemented properly, it will benefit scores of students and could also make them self-employed.

When the scheme was launched by the Science and Technology Ministry, it was decided that at least one student from each school, who was good, could be appointed as a teacher for rest of the students.

The decision of the ministry 'not to meet the recurring expenditure' would be fatal for the programme, some MPs said.

- Compiled from the Indian media

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