India Rejects $100 Laptop Project

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Well, yet here again we have an exciting issue on the table which
though doesn't need a debate at all, its still there. So for the
sake of it being there let me present my point of view on it.
Needless to say, the much-hyped about issue on `one laptop per
child' is entirely baseless, at least in a developing country like
India. It is a surprise in fact that the planning commission had
actually done lots of paper work on this program put forth by Prof
Nicholas Negroponte who is very well known for his innovative ideas
in the field of education. However, as said by Aswari Ghatage, a
student at Mount Carmel College, the professors at MIT are far too
removed to feel the reality on India, it is only too true that a
program such as OLPC despite being just too good and innovative for
students has no real value in actuality unless these students are
provided with the basic needs. Here are some of the very basic
reasons why this program if put in place in India in the recent
times is going to have a fiasco:
1. more than half the Indian population communicates and learns
in vernacular languages and hence the introduction of laptops is
going to be of little use to these majority of children.
2. the children who still depend on the government to provide
them their basic primary education are hardly capable enough to even
buy books or uniform for their school. How are they going to be able
to pay for the maintenance and internet connectivity in case they do
receive the laptops?
3. giving these children computer education is another hurdle
since their parents themselves are computer illiterates.
4. now comes the shipping and delivery of these laptops. We all
know just too well how the Indian system works. Even in the
instances of natural disasters, only a small part of the relief
reaches the victims, so how can it be ensured that the supply of
laptops to all the areas would be penetrated enough with so much of
corruption through out the way right from the workers to high level
officials?
Well these are just some of the superficial apprehensions by one and
all, if the program is ever put into place, more problems which have
not yet been even thought of will pop up from nowhere. So the stand
taken by our government is completely justified. Also the positive
point to this issue is its capability of creating innovativeness and
creativeness in students as young children are far too curious and
fast learners through creative ideas such as these. But that only
becomes possible when they are already proficient with using the
computers easily that these ideas can actually be realized. So
programs such as these will actually be a big hit in developed
countries but for the still developing ones, that's far too a reach.
The good times for Indians is yet to come and soon. Till then we
need to wait patiently and be rationale towards all the decisions
without hurrying into things.

Singh P.