Bihar mulls providing tablets to 3 crore BPL girls, women

PATNA: In a novel experiment to encourage illiterate girls and women to get education, Bihar government today said it was mulling distributing tablets to three crore of them living below poverty line.

State Minister for Information and Technology Shahid Ali Khan told reporters here that a Rs 7000-crore plan had been drawn up for the purpose, which would be taken to Cabinet soon for approval.

Ali said he had discussion with Chief Minister Nitish Kumar in this regard.

He said the beneficiaries would be chosen from those clearing a small test conducted by Aganwadi and Vasudha kendras after a training programme spanning two months.

Ali denied that the proposal to distribute tablets had been inspired by a scheme undertaken by the Akhilesh Yadav government in Uttar Pradesh to provide laptops to girls free of cost.

"They gave laptops to school girls while we will provide tablets to girls as well women after they clear a training programme," he explained.