State board students scoring over 80 pc to get laptops

Laptops will be distributed among students who score over 80 per cent marks in class 12 examination of state board as also to those who secure more than 70 per cent marks in higher, technological and medical education in Uttarakhand.
The decision to give the incentive to meritorious students was taken at a meeting of the state cabinet chaired by Chief Minister Harish Rawat here today, official sources said.
The cabinet met before the Model Code of Conduct came into force with the announcement of Lok Sabha poll schedule.
To promote education of the girlchild, the cabinet decided to hike the amount given under 'Kanya Dhan Scheme' from Rs 25,000 to Rs 50,000 with effect from April one.

The beneficiaries of the scheme will now get a fixed deposit of Rs 25,000 and an equal amount as financial assistance for their education.
The cabinet also decided to fill 2,394 vacancies for teachers in primary schools by the end of this month besides making appointment to 1,200 new posts over the next two years in schools being set up in calamity-hit areas of the state.