Notwithstanding Samajwadi Party president Mulayam Singh’s reported reservations on the utility of the laptop distribution scheme, the Uttar Pradesh Cabinet on Saturday decided to go ahead with the populist measure. A Cabinet meeting, presided over by Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav, decided to honour top students in high school and intermediate examinations of 2014 with the free laptops.
Mr. Singh had reportedly said at a party meeting held here recently that the laptop distribution scheme benefitted (Prime Minister) Narendra Modi as the students were able to see his pictures (during the Lok Sabha election campaign) on the laptops.
The district-wise list of actual beneficiaries would be released after the approval of the Chief Minister.