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The state government today announced that it would start distributing free laptops to meritorious students, who have passed the +2 examinations, from August 15. This in line with the commitment made by chief minister Naveen Patnaik while unveiling the state youth policy in April this year.
The distribution of free laptops would begin simultaneously in all the 30 districts. The state government has decided to give away 15,000 laptops.
“In the first phase, 3,750 laptops will be distributed among the meritorious students on August 15. The entire process will be completed by September,” said higher education minister Badri Narayan Patra after a high-level meeting chaired by the chief minister.
The merit list of the students belonging to arts, science and commerce streams, has been prepared, the minister added.
Official sources said, tenders for procuring the laptops will be floated in a day or two. It will be a national tender and only original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) will be eligible to participate.
The general bids will be open on July 18 while the technical and commercial bids will be opened on July 20 and July 24 respectively, Patra said.
The work order is likely to be issued on July 26.
The tender document, already finalized by the state IT department, has been sent to the higher education and finance departments for vetting.
The pre-poll largesse of distributing free laptops, visibly aimed at wooing youth voters, would cost the state exchequer about Rs 35 crore.
Odisha has joined the league of states like Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan which had earlier announced similar schemes to distribute laptops and tablet PCs.
