Agartala, December 15: The importance of smartphones is essential for students. Smartphones are essential for students to make Digital India as well as Digital Tripura program a success. Students are capable of playing an important role in the development of the state and the state. Information Technology Minister Pranajit Sinharai said this while inaugurating the Chief Minister Youth Communication Scheme for the academic year 2023-24 at the Information Technology Building in Indranagar today.
In the event, the Information Technology Minister said that final year students studying in all government educational institutions of the state can apply for this scheme by January 15, 2024. Students have to apply for smartphone purchase facility on BMS portal https://bms.tripura.gov.in. The government will provide this assistance in the bank account of the students. Nowadays smartphone is a very necessary electronic device for students for online courses or classes. In this scheme, the government will give a maximum assistance of 5 thousand rupees to each student for the purchase of a smartphone.
He said many parents cannot afford to buy smartphones for their students. So the government is giving support to the Chief Minister Youth Communication Scheme. Information and Technology Minister Pranjit Sinha Roy also said in the program that 6 crore rupees have been allocated in the budget of the current financial year for this scheme with the target of 12 thousand students in the academic year 2023-24. But on the initiative of Chief Minister Professor (Dr.) Manik Saha, it has been decided to bring 19,796 final year students studying in all government educational institutions of the state under this scheme in the academic year 2023-24. For this the fund requirement has been increased to Rs 9.49 crore.
He said that the government has introduced e-office system in every government office. A target has been taken to achieve paperless offices by December 31, 2023. Note that this scheme is being implemented from the financial year 2020-21. 7,274 students in 2020-21 financial year, 9,579 students in 2021-22 financial year, 11,892 students in 2022-23 financial year have benefited from this scheme.
28,745 students have benefited from this scheme in the last 3 financial years Rs 14.37 crore has been spent for this. Information Technology Department Secretary Kiran Gitte, Information Technology Department Additional Director Bidyut Dutta, Additional Director Uttam Poddar, Nodal Officers of various educational institutions and final year students were present in the inauguration ceremony. Besides, heads of educational institutions also attended the inauguration ceremony through video conference.