The SSLC results are just round the corner, but government school students who passed last year’s exams with flying colours and were entitled to free desktops have still not got them.
The Karnataka Secondary Education and Examination Board (KSEEB), in-charge of distributing the desktops, have already got the allocated fund of Rs 2.46 crore in its kitty.
But, rise in the prices of desktops quoted during the tendering process has led to the impediment, according to a well-placed source.
“Since 2010, when the scheme was first introduced, Rs 33,000 was allocated for each desktop. However, in 2013, the price quoted rose to Rs 43, 000,” said the source.
According to sources, the plan was to distribute 750 desktops, in 2013, to three toppers each at the district level and one topper each at the taluk level.
The tender for the scheme has already been called thrice, although nothing has moved forward, said the source.
108 SSLC toppers at the district level received the desktops in 2010. And in 2011, at least 106 district-level toppers got the desktops.
The scheme was expanded to include one topper from the taluk level and 324 desktops–to 106 district-level and 218 taluk-level toppers–were given out that year in 2012.
Recently, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah expressed his government’s inability to implement a similar scheme to distribute free laptops to PU students this year.
He said that the scheme that requires Rs 1,000 crore would be implemented before the end of the five-year term of the government.
Asked if the additional amount required to implement the scheme would at all be sanctioned by a cash-strapped government, Mohammed Mohsin, Commissioner, Department of Public Instruction, said, “I am optimistic of getting the amount. The file relating to the matter has reached my office and I will send it shortly to the education department asking for support and direction in the matter,” he said.
According to Devprakash, director, KSEEB, “The discrepancy in the amount sanctioned and the price quoted is why we have not been able to move forward. The matter will be taken up very soon,” he said.