School students will soon have their textbooks digitised and available free of cost on the Internet, the State government said on Monday.
The digital collaborative textbooks will be in multi-video format. They will have self-explanatory videos and frequently asked questions to make learning at school more pleasurable, easy, visually rich, and interactive.
The programme would help children visualise scientific concepts better. The digital textbooks would have teachers and experts explaining lessons from different points of view.
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The programme, spearheaded by the IT@School Mission, would rely on teaching experience from around the world. The digital lessons could also be accessed on mobile phones.
ASHA workers
The government has instituted an insurance scheme for 26,000 Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHAs) for an annual individual premium of Rs.86. The programme would cost the public exchequer an estimated Rs.21 lakh annually.
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The insurance coverage entailed a compensation of Rs.2 lakh in the event of accidental death or crippling injury. In the event of natural death, the nominees of ASHA workers would get Rs.50,000. The health workers subsist on a monthly honorarium of Rs.1,000. They performed a crucial role in vector control and other public health programmes.
Fishermen colonies
The State has earmarked Rs.30 crore for the renovation of 68 fishermen colonies. These colonies would have piped potable water supply, sewerage, common sanitation, library, park, street lighting and transformers to provide un-impeded power.
Welfare funds
Henceforth, beneficiaries of government welfare programmes will have funds transferred directly to their bank accounts. These include pensions for freedom fighters and dispossessed widows.
Physically challenged persons and those who are bedridden will continue to receive their pension as money orders.
The textbooks will have self-explanatory videos, frequently asked questions and will be available for free on the Net.