Karnataka eyes corporate laptop reuse for rural schools

Bengaluru: The Karnataka government is exploring a structured programme to facilitate the reuse of corporate laptops and other IT equipment for rural schools and government institutions, the IT/BT department said in a statement.

The proposal emerged during government consultation initiative Katalyst Connect, where Global Capability Centre (GCC) leaders discussed on Wednesday creating a formal mechanism for companies to donate usable IT devices instead of disposing of them.

The idea builds on an earlier collaboration between GCC of the US-based financial services firm Fidelity and the Karnataka government, under which 1,000 corporate laptops, retired after three to four years of use, were distributed to rural schools.


During the discussions, Fidelity representatives said large companies routinely replace laptops after a few years of use. They proposed a structured programme that would enable such devices to be refurbished and redirected for public use.

Responding to the proposal, Karnataka IT/BT minister Priyank M Kharge said the government was willing to work with industry and advocate for an enabling framework with the Centre to make such donations easier.

"There is a significant requirement for computers and technology equipment across government institutions. Apart from providing computers to rural students, we have also equipped Village Accountants and Panchayat Development Officers with technology. This has improved administrative efficiency and supported higher rural tax collections," Kharge said.

He added that rural tax collections had risen from around Rs 450 crore to nearly Rs 1,500 crore, with the additional revenue flowing back to gram panchayats for local development.

Kharge said the government wanted to explore making the initiative an annual programme that would help expand access to technology, reduce electronic waste and support the circular economy.

According to the IT/BT department, nearly 60% of the GCC leaders present at Katalyst Connect expressed interest in participating in such a programme.

The department said the government will now examine ways to facilitate wider industry participation, address regulatory challenges and develop a structured framework for channeling usable corporate IT equipment to rural schools and local governance institutions across Karnataka.