Assam education and health minister Himanta Biswa Sarma hands over a laptop to a student during the function on Thursday. Picture by UB Photos

Nov. 24: Dispur today announced that the Anundoram Borooah Award will be given away by August after the declaration of board results from next year.

Around 1,500 students of Kamrup (rural) district were felicitated under the Anundoram Borooah Award at Gauhati University. The students got the laptops almost six months after their matric results were declared.

“From next year, we will distribute the laptops before August 30. As these laptops are of great help to the students, the delay is a big loss. We will ensure that this does not happen next year,” education and health minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said.

For 16-year-old Himangshu Deka of Bihdia village of Baihata Chariali, the laptop meant getting information without having to depend on others to get it downloaded.

“This will be of great help to me. I have taken admission in a college near my place. Besides downloading study materials I will be able to store it for future use,” Himangshu said.

Abdul Matim of Boko stays in a rented house in the city and attends classes in Cotton College. A first-year higher secondary student of science stream, he had secured 87 per cent in his board examination. He believes the laptop will help him study better and secure more marks.

“Portability is the best factor about laptops and as I stay in a rented house it is more convenient than a desktop. There are preinstalled software in the laptop which will help me with my studies,” Matim said.

In 2005, Dispur launched the Anundoram Borooah Award Scheme, under which students securing 60 per cent in their matric examinations were given desktops. From 2009, the scheme was upgraded and students were given laptops.

“We want the students to get the best of technology. Initially our motive was criticised as a gimmick to win votes. But we have continued our scheme for the past six years and will be doing it in coming years,” Sarma said.

For students like Ruma Begum who could not come to collect her award, their family members made up for their absence. Her brother Mohammad Ratul Ali said, “My sister secured 77.66 per cent in her board examinations. She was very excited to know that she will get a laptop for scoring good marks. This kind of award is an inspiration for students like my sister.”