ITANAGAR, 2 JULY : The Education department on Monday has clarify on the academic toppers award and distribution of old and used laptop issue which has been surfaced form Tirap district which has come up in media and social media.
Speaking to media, the School education director Marken Kadu said that “today the issue has been surfaced in the media and complain has also received to department, this was in connection with issue of laptop to the meritorious of district topers”. He said.
“The department has made all formalities in the matter of Laptop scheme, the lowest price bidder’s firm was selected through open tender was given the supply order”. “We are equally sad to know after lots of complain has been received, today issue has been discussed”. He said.
“No fund has been released to the firm and no fund will be released until supply laptop to the full satisfactory of the department” Said Director.
Direction has also been issued to the respective deputy director of school education (DDSE) of all district to constituted committee and verify the lot received to them and check the quality of the product and send the report to the directorate. He said.
Those DDSE who has received the consignment should immediately verify the quantity and quality of the products and send the report. He said.
Till report form all the district does not received to the directorate satisfactorily no payment will be issued to the firm. Added Director School education Marken Kadu.
He however said that in case and damaged old and used laptop has been given to any toper and meritorious students it will be replaced and directions has been issued in this regard
It is to mention that eight laptop each was to distribute in all the district of state and the laptop was an announcement of state government budget to motivate the meritorious students of respective district and an amount of Rs. 1.5 crore was accorded for the same.
Earlier a group of seven Class 10 and Class 12 toppers from Tirap district has submitted representation to the Deputy commissioner alleging that they were given “old and used” laptops during the 2021-’22 academic toppers award programme.
The students allege that “condition/hardware as well as the internal data/software of the received laptops seems that the devices (laptops) are old or have been used by previous owners.”
When contacted the Papum Pare DDSE T T Tara informed that he has also received 16 laptop and in first instanced he refused to accept but on 2nd attempt the has received the consignment contaminating laptop. We are also now going to verify and check whether it is old or new and used one. DDSE Yupia said.
The Capital DDSE ST Zara when contacted inform that “ till today we have not officially received any laptop however the consignment has already arrived at Naharlagun. He said
After receiving of the consignment we will form a board and under the chairmanship of Deputy Commissioner the quality and quantity of the laptop will be verified. Capital DDSE ST Zara added
