The state Cabinet today paved way for the distribution of 1.73 lakh smartphones among the students of government schools. The first lot of 50,000 phones will be given to students who will be appearing for Class XII examinations this year through the online system amid the Covid pandemic.

The distribution of the first batch of 50,000 phones, which has already been received by the state government. The phones will have a touchscreen, camera and preloaded government applications like e-Sewa app with content related to Classes XI and XII, as approved by Department of School Education. The second batch will arrive soon and the entire distribution process will be completed by November this year.

The Cabinet noted that four months of the academic year 2020-21 had already lapsed without regular on-campus classes. While private schools shifted to online classes, the students of government schools faced a competitive disadvantage, especially those studying in Class XII. Though it was initially decided that the first batch of smartphones would be given to girls.

 Both boys and girls of Class XII of government schools, who do not have smartphones to access online classes, would be provided the same.