Although first-year students under the new four-year undergraduate programme are angrily complaining that they have not received the laptops promised by Delhi University, those admitted under the persons with disability (PWD) category are a happier lot as the laptops for them have come on time.
“A Shri Ram College of Commerce student from Jharkhand who did not know about the university’s laptop scheme was so happily surprised that he wrote me a long letter explaining how it was not possible for him to even think of owning a laptop before he finished college and that he had not heard about any other educational institution distributing laptops. Many other students were sceptical, thinking they would be charged somehow and had some difficulty understanding that it was actually free,” said Equal Opportunities Cell officer Bipin Tiwary.
Till date, around 481 students from 53 colleges have received the laptops. “Since the admissions went on till August 7, we are yet to get the complete data. Ambedkar College for example had only 15 students which increased to 30 after we finished distributing them,” he said, adding that Satyawati College had the most number of PWDs at 38 and that the university already had extra laptops to give to the PWD students who joined late.
The laptops have been equipped with software to assist those with visual impairments and the screens measure about 11.5 inches. “I think they cost around Rs 30,000 each. It is not just first-year students but even the other two years who will get the laptops but it is only for the PWD students.”
The university, however, will make good on its promise of providing the laptops to all students.
