(a) whether the Government has decided to hold back its proposed tender for
procuring 5 million Aakash tablets;
(b) if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor;
(c) whether the Government has decided to review the Aakash tablet project as
well as the National Mission on Education through Information and Communication
Technology (NMEICT);
(d) if so, the details thereof; and
(e) the time by which a final decision is likely to be taken by the Government in
this regard?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT (DR. SHASHI THAROOR)
(a & b) Madam, at present, under the National Mission on Education through Information
and Communication Technology (NMEICT) scheme, the IIT Bombay is doing only a project for
achieving the following deliverables after acquiring the Low Cost Access cum computing
Devices (LCADs) for teacher empowerment:
(i) Acquisition and testing of LCADs; and
(ii) Hardware & software optimization of LCADs.
In the first phase 1, 00,000 tablets are allotted for the purpose of testing by
users all over India in different climatic and usage conditions. As the Government has
not taken any decision to procure 5 million Aakash tablets, the question of holding back
the tender does not arise.
(c to e) An Evaluation Committee constituted by the Government to evaluate the National
Mission on Education through Information and Communication Technology (NMEICT) has
submitted its report in the month of December 2012. The Aakash tablet project was one
of the projects reviewed by this committee.