Bhubaneswar, June 25: The state government today announced that the free laptop distribution scheme for meritorious students of Plus Two board exams would be launched across the state on Independence Day this year.

The scheme, which is part of the Odisha State Youth Policy, 2013, would cover 15,000 students, including 5,000 belonging to scheduled caste and scheduled tribe.

“In the first phase, a total of 3,750 laptops will be distributed,” said Badri Narayan Patra, minister of higher education, after a review meeting chaired by chief minister Naveen Patnaik at the state secretariat today.

The distribution will continue till September 30.

The IT department has been entrusted with the responsibility of procuring the laptops.

“There will be an open tendering process and the highest bidder would bag the Rs 30-crore project,” said Damodar Pradhani, financial advisor to the higher education department.

After the declaration of Plus Two results on May 29, the Council of Higher Secondary Education prepared a stream-wise list of the meritorious students who would receive the electronic gadgets. The list of 10,000 general beneficiaries includes 3,500 students from arts, 5,000 from science and 1,500 from commerce.

“As far as the SC and ST categories are concerned, laptops will be given to 2,500 students belonging to arts stream, 2,000 in science and 500 others from commerce background,” said Gagan Kumar Dhal higher education secretary.

He said the laptops would be dispatched to authorities in all 30 districts well in advance and they would decide the modalities of distribution.

Naveen had earlier announced that the laptops would be provided in a bid to bridge the digital divide among students with special attention on girls as well as SC and ST students.

The IT department was supposed to procure the laptops by June 15, to ensure that they reached the students before the commencement of the new academic session.

“We hope there will be no delay this time,” said Pradhani.

Though there are some who view the free laptop scheme as a political gimmick by BJD government, students are happy with the announcement.

“Laptops have become an essential part of every student’s life. If we are getting it free of cost, there is no reason to complain,” said Abhishek Patnaik, a Plus Two pass-out.