Nearly 75,000 students who paid Rs 1,000 each for NAMO tablets (New Avenues of Modern Education) under a Gujarat government scheme launched in 2017-2018 but have yet to receive them due to a variety of issues, including the devices “failing quality tests,” have written to the government requesting a refund or adjustment to their final semester fees.
Many of these students will now complete their three and four year diploma and degree courses without receiving the tablets for which they have paid at the beginning of academic sessions in 2018-’19 and 2019-’20.
In a letter to the chief minister’s office (CMO) last month, a student of 2018-’19 batch from Government Engineering College, Godhra, said, “We had paid Rs 1,000 for the tablets in the first year (August 2018) but are still waiting for the tablets… We complained many times but got no proper solution… Barely couple of months left for completion of BE…”.
The government has now issued fresh tenders after suspending the scheme for 2020-’21 and 2021-’22 academic sessions. Since the scheme was announced, the government has given out nearly eight lakh tablets.
The distribution was delayed after the Gujarat government inserted a “Make in India” clause in the tender and the tablets that were procured failed quality tests. After tenders were issued 3-4 times but failed to generate good response or meet the technical specifications, in August 2021, the tender was awarded to Indian firm, Lava International.
Education Minister Jitu Vaghani said, “Since Lava International failed quality tests, earlier tender was cancelled and fresh tenders have been floated again.” Vaghani said after failing quality tests twice, the government cancelled the previous tender of 2021 for three lakh tablets.
The education department reissued tenders for 3, 75,000 tablets on March 23, 2022, agreeing to split the bid between two manufacturers.
With more delays in obtaining tablets expected, the government will be required to provide tablets to nearly 9.75 lakh students in June 2022, including both current students and new admissions.