UP CM gives away free laptops with an eye on LS poll

The Akhilesh Yadav government on Monday fulfilled one of its major manifesto promises by distributing 10,000 free laptops to students who had passed their intermediate examination in 2012.

“Our endeavor has been to bridge the gaps between the haves and have nots. The power of this new technology to the youth would diminish the digital divide. You no longer need to suffer from an inferiority complex and low self esteem before someone flaunting a laptop,” the chief minister declared at a public function where the laptops were given away to the students.

The government had made the promise in its election manifesto, and it was one of the main reasons for a sizeable section of youth voting for the Samajwadi Party (SP). The government has also promised free tablet computers to students who had passed their class X exam.

The laptop distribution sets in motion the process of  presenting such free laptops to approximately 15 lakh students throughout the state at a cost of a whopping Rs 2,250 crore at Rs 15,000 per laptop. The SP is clearly targeting the youth who have just turned voters for the next Lok Sabha election scheduled next year. Interestingly, a large section of the 10,000 beneficiaries on Monday were Muslims.

At the grand public function held at the Colvin Taluqdar’s College ground, senior cabinet ministers and government officials were present on the dais as thousands of students eagerly waiting since morning came up in a neat queue to receive their laptops and pose for the media.

SP national president Mulayam Singh Yadav and Muslim face of the party Mohammad Azam Khan were conspicuous by their absence. Their faces, however, adorned the banner which formed the backdrop.

Addressing the young audience, Akhilesh Yadav termed the internet as the most significant development after the invention of the wheel. “Armed with these laptops a new world will unfold before you. You will now become part of a global community. You must take full advantage of this window of opportunity. It will help you to equip yourself for the changing needs of the job market,” he said.

Hitting out at the opposition parties for describing the SP’s promise of giving laptops as a ‘jhunjhuna’ (a child’s toy), Akhilesh said he would present such jhunjhuna to these leaders as well so that they can also play with it.

Admitting vast unemployment in UP, the CM assured that the “berozgaari bhatta” (unemployment allowance) was not the solution but a stop-gap arrangement for the struggling youth. “My government is working towards creating an enabling environment which would attract investment and industry, and in turn create employment,” he said.

Underlining his government’s attempt to fulfil its poll promises he said the Samajwadis were known for translating their words into action. “Our culture is to have no distinction between word and deed,” he asserted.