Follow low-cost Aakash project proactively: Parl panel to govt

Stressing the importance of indigenous low-cost devices, like Aakash, a Parliamentary panel has asked the government to follow the project proactively as it has can help in digital inclusion.
The Aakash project, which was the brain child of former Union Minister Kapil Sibal, was sanctioned in January 2009 and was initially a project of Human Resource Development Ministry.
The project was transferred to IIT Bombay in April 2012, and in mid-2013 it was decided that Department of Electronics and IT would take it forward.
The vendor neutral technical specifications for 'Aakash IV' were finalised in August 2013 and a tender for the tablets was put out by DGS&D in January 2014.

However, no vendor was able to meet the specifications and the new specifications have not been finalised by the government.
The Standing Committee on Information Technology (2015-16), headed by BJP MP Anurag Singh Thakur, in its report said notes furnished by the department reveals that there has been no progress in the matter as new technical specifications have still not been finalised.
"The committee, while reiterating the importance of low cost devices Aakash IV which has huge utility and potential for digital inclusion, especially in the context of flagship programmes like Digital India, desire the department to follow it up proactively," the report said.