SHILLONG: In continuation of the Chief Minister’s Students Digital Learning Aid Scheme, Tablets were distributed to class XII students of East Khasi Hills District at Polo Grounds here on Wednesday.
Chief Minister Mukul Sangma along with IT Minister, AL Hek, Urban Affairs Minister, Ampareen Lyngdoh and Sports and Youth Affairs Minister, Zenith Sangma distributed the tablets.
Speaking on the occasion Sangma motivated the students to excel and “show that you are way ahead of others.”
“Your success stories will encourage us to work harder,” the Chief Minister said adding that the Government is carrying forward the scheme to empower the students so that “the generation-next is capable of realizing its dreams and is at par with others globally”.
The Tablets that were distributed on Wednesday are powered with the latest version of Android OS and are WiFi enabled. They also carry a warranty of two years.
CM talks about ambitious Human Capital Development Programme
The Chief Minister also spoke about the ambitious Human Capital Development Programme aimed at technologically empowering the educational institutions of the State.
An amount of USD 125 million has been sanctioned for the project in the first phase out of which USD 100 million is being funded by the Asian Development Bank and 90 per cent is grants-in-aid of the State Government.
Meanwhile, the Chief Minister also informed that in order to improve the quality of teaching, the Government would provide a financial support of Rs 5000 per month to aspiring teachers and facilities to train them would be made available in all the blocks of the State.
Govt committed to the idea of digital city
“Despite the unpleasant things happening around us, the Government is striving hard to make the future better for its citizens to ensure that there is positive perception of the youths of Meghalaya,” he said while informing that the Government is firm in its commitment made last year to make all the classrooms in the State and also the tourist hotspots and parks in the city WiFi enabled.
For this the Government would sign the Agreement within this month, he informed, adding that it would also try to locate more funds to ensure that the IT Department can cover more under the Digital Learning Aid Scheme.
Earlier, IT Minister, AL Hek, who had recently attended the programme of the IT Ministers called Digital India Programme, said that Meghalaya was way ahead of the rest in taking up the projects envisaged in the programme, namely, broadband connection to villages, Public Internet Access Programme through CSCs, Digital Literacy Programme and the State was also the first to have a State Data Centre.
He also informed that 70 acres of land has been acquired for setting up of an IT Park in the State.
Our Jowai Correspondent adds
Meanwhile, all together 2314 Tablets were distributed to Class XII students of various schools in West Jaintia Hills District at Thomas Jones Synod College on Wednesday.
PWD Minister, Sniawbhalang Dkhar, was present as the chief guest during the distribution f the tablets.