Insta
Laptop Scam: Akhilesh Yadav Government Distributed Just Six Lakh Of 15 Lakh Laptops Bought
Swarajya Staff
Apr 26, 2017, 05:50 PM | Updated 05:50 PM IST
Save & read from anywhere!
Bookmark stories for easy access on any device or the Swarajya app.
Former Uttar Pradesh chief minister Akhilesh Yadav’s free laptop distribution scheme has come under the scanner.
According to Abhishek Upadhyay’s report for IndiaTV, it has now come to light, through a response to a Right to Information query, that there was serious discrepancy between the procurement and distribution of laptops in the scheme which aimed to provide students free laptops and tablets to encourage them to study further.
The previous Uttar Pradesh government reportedly purchased around 15 lakh laptops but distributed just six lakh of those purchased. The status of the remaining nine lakh laptops is currently unknown, says the report.
What is noteworthy is that the caretaker government of Uttar Pradesh ordered the purchase of 71,875 new laptops for Rs 13,490 each – just three days before the swearing in of the new Bharatiya Janata Party government in the state.
When asked about the discrepancy, government officials responded by saying not all the data for the scheme had been updated. However, RTI activist Shantanu Gupta pointed out that the extent of discrepancy was so large that a mere delay in updating data did not seem to account for it.
Save & read from anywhere!
Bookmark stories for easy access on any device or the Swarajya app.
Introducing ElectionsHQ + 50 Ground Reports Project
The 2024 elections might seem easy to guess, but there are some important questions that shouldn't be missed.
Do freebies still sway voters? Do people prioritise infrastructure when voting? How will Punjab vote?
The answers to these questions provide great insights into where we, as a country, are headed in the years to come.
Swarajya is starting a project with an aim to do 50 solid ground stories and a smart commentary service on WhatsApp, a one-of-a-kind. We'd love your support during this election season.
Click below to contribute.