(a) whether the Government are running any programme to impart computer education at a lower cost to the educated and unemployed persons belonging to the poor and weaker sections of the society, as the computer has become a main source of employment these days;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) if not, the reasons therefor; and
(d) the efforts being made to ensure that such a programme is introduced in the country urgently in the public interest?
MINISTER OF PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS AND COMMUNICATIONS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY(SHRI PRAMOD MAHAJAN)
(a) and (b): Computer Education is provided at lower cost to
the educated and unemployed persons belonging to the poor and
weaker section of the society under an Employment Generation
Training Scheme (EGTS).
The objective of this scheme is to harness the potential of
Electronics and Information Technology in providing `Employment
Oriented Training` for educated youth to fill up the shortage
of trained personnel in the North East and other regions.
In addition to the above, some of the organisations under the
Ministry of Information Technology namely Department of
Electronics Accreditation of Computer Courses (DOEACC), Centre
for electronics Development & Technology of India (CEDTI),
Electronics Trade & Technology Development Corporation Limited (
ET&T) have different provisions for poor and weaker sections to
impart computer education at a lower cost. DOEACC refunds
examination fees to the SC/ST candidates subject to their
successfully qualifying any of the DOEACC level examinations.
CEDTI have kept low fees for their computer related courses as
compared to fees charged by commercial institutions. ET&T
besides keeping their fees on the lower side also provides 5%
discount to SC/ST cadidates.
Ministry of Human Resources Development also provides support to
educational institutions in the country for setting up of
computer facilities etc. Most of the Government /Government
aided institutions have very nominal fees for higher/technical
education including computer education. Even in self-financing
institutions there is three-tier fee structure. Under this
free-tier fee structure students from poor and weaker sections
of society who are meritorious have to pay very nominal fees.
In addition, most of the institutions have scheme of scholarship
and free-ships for students from poor and weaker sections of the
society in all fields of education including computer education.
(c) and (d): Do not arise.