Government trying to ascertain demand of Akash Tablets from Vice Chancellors

NEW DELHI: No norms had been laid down for distribution of first phase of one lakh Akash Tablets though Government has written to Vice Chancellors of Universities to ascertain the demand.

This was stated by Minister of State in the HRD Ministry E Ahamed today while responding to a question in Rajya Sabha.

Ahamed said that after launch of the Akash Tablet in October 2011, higher technical specifications including 700 MHz Cortex A8 processor and a 3200 mAH battery and capacitative touch screen at the same price have been necessitated to overcome the difficulties observed in the device.

"Earlier this project for procurement and testing of 1,00,000 low cost tablets was assigned to IIT Rajasthan but in view of certain intractable problems being faced by them, now the project has been transferred to IIT Bombay," Ahamed said.

"Since the first phase of 1,00,000 tablets are targeted for students in higher technical educational institutions so as to ascertain technical feedback on its operations and usability, no norms for distribution of tablet have been laid down," he added.

Ahamed also said that letters had been written to Vice Chancellors of Universities, heads of higher educational institutions and state governments to ascertain demand for Akash Tablets.