‘Make-in-India’ clause delays Gujarat govt’s NAMO pill scheme for college kids by a yr

Around 72,000 undergraduate college students in Gujarat will begin getting NAMO e-tablets subsequent month underneath a state authorities scheme that was delayed by a yr as a result of authorities insisting on made-in-India units aside from the sooner determined Chinese ones.
The scheme was introduced by the state authorities in 2017-18 to offer tablets to college students who clear Class 12 exams and pursue diploma or diploma programs in Gujarat, at a value of Rs 1,000 every towards the claimed market value of Rs 7,000- Rs 8,000.
Education Minister Bhupendrasinh Chudasama instructed The Indian Express, “The delay was because we insisted on ‘Make-In-India’. But we are committed to provide tablets to these 72,000 students, followed by new admissions for the academic session 2021-22.” The authorities are planning handy over a couple of tablets to those college students on August 1 as a part of the celebration to mark the completion of 5 years of Rupani authorities.
Students who’ve registered and paid the token quantity of Rs 1,000 at the start of the educational session 2020-21 are nonetheless ready for the tablets. Amid political stress and opposition allegations, the Gujarat training division goals to clear this backlog earlier than the brand new session begins whilst registrations are but to be opened for college kids for the educational session 2021-22.
“With the implementation of Make-in-India and anti-China clauses, the previous tender awarded to a company that was supplying Chinese tablets (Lenovo) had to be cancelled. Tenders were issued three-four times again but failed to generate a good response under ‘Make-in-India’. Then Covid outbreak happened, resulting in further delay,” a senior official within the training division mentioned on situation of anonymity.
Chudasama mentioned, “Since we have cleared the file and tender awarded to an Indian company, the process of distribution will start soon both for the pending students and as well as new admissions.” The tenders have now been awarded to Lava International, an Indian firm.

Senior training officers mentioned that the bottom work has been accomplished for the distribution of tablets that can start in August. The backlog is anticipated to be cleared by September, they mentioned.
In the primary yr, the state authorities in its monetary finances had made an allocation of over Rs 150 crore for the scheme. Two firms — Acer and Lenovo, have been shortlisted by way of the tendering course of. However, solely Lenovo was supplying tablets to the state authorities until final yr with an elevated finances of roughly Rs 200 crore. More than three lakh college students are to be given the tablets at a token value of Rs 1,000 annually.

As per sources, the tablets being offered to college students are upgraded with improved specs, together with a display measurement of 8 inches as an alternative of seven inches and elevated micro-processing with enhanced RAM. The market worth for a pill this specification is claimed to be wherever between Rs 12,000 and Rs 14,000.