Lapses in UP govt's free laptop scheme: CAG

The Comptroller and Auditor General of India has found lapses in the Samajwadi Party government's ambitious scheme of distributing tablets and laptops among class 10th and 12th pass outs in the state.
A CAG report on General and Social Sector, tabled in the state Assembly today, said that excess financial provision was made as a result of which Rs 2,020 crore lapsed during 2012-2014.
The scheme was launched in 2012 to distribute tablets and laptops to students passing class 10 and 12th respectively.
The CAG said that despite adequate budgetary allocation class 10th students were deprived of the benefit.
It said that a futile expenditure of Rs 60.05 lakh was made in the procurement process of 26.62 lakh tablets.

As against estimated distribution of 18.9 lakh laptops, only 14.81 lakh were distributed as a result 4.55 lakh students were deprived of the benefit, it said.
The report said that during physical verification laptops were missing in some districts.
It also raised objections over exorbitant expenditure on the programmes to distribute laptops, which were chaired by Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav, in Aligarh, Allahabad, and Banda districts.