UP govt to spend Rs 2,700 crore for free laptops from plan allocation
Planning Commission has approved allocation of Rs 2,700 crore out of Uttar Pradesh's plan size for distribution of free laptops and tablets to students in the state in the current fiscal.

The decision was taken in the annual plan size meeting between chief minister Akhilesh Yadav and Planning Commission deputy chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia on Thursday.

Free distribution of laptops to 12th pass students of UP board is a flagship scheme of Akhilesh Yadav government.

The scheme is aimed at bridging the gap between urban and rural students so that those residing in villages can make use of technology and gain high level of knowledge.

The Planning Commission has approved a total plan size of Rs 69,200 crore for Uttar Pradesh for 2013-14.

Of the total allocation, plan funding from the central government to the state is over Rs 30,000 crore.

In the plan meeting, Ahluwalia had asked the state government to give priority to education and health while working out development strategy.