(a) whether digital contents and improvement in digital content under Vidya Vahini Centres in A & N Islands has been set up;
(b) if so, the details thereof from 2007 onwards;
(c) the qualitative and quantitative improvement in students during 2007-2008; and
(d) whether the Government proposes to extend the scheme and if so, the details thereof and the action taken in this regard?
MINISTER OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT (SMT. SMRITI ZUBIN IRANI)
(a) to (d): The UT Administration of A & N Islands is running Communication Information Centres -Vidya Vahini Centres for imparting ICT based education and training to the school students as well as enabling citizen interface with government and for such IT enabled services as may be relevant to the needs of the local community. This has created IT awareness among the schools and to encourage computer Literacy among students; students have hands on experience for learning computer and usage of internet; promote critical thinking and analytical skills by developing self learning by using ICT tools; and enable students to acquire skills needed for the digital world for higher studies and gainful employment.
The UT Administration had entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Department of Information & Technology, Govt. of India which has expired on 31st March 2012. However, the UT Administration is running Communi- cation Information Centres -Vidya Vahini Centres for imparting ICT with the help of Educational Research Network, Autonomous Scientific Society under Department of Electronic and Information Technology, Ministry of Communi- cation of Information Technology, Govt. of India by hiring the Internet Bandwidth of 384 Kbps on pro-rata basis to each centre.