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LATEST NEWS UPDATES | Beneficiaries selling Samajwadi Party laptops for Rs 4,000 -Shailvee Sharda

Beneficiaries selling Samajwadi Party laptops for Rs 4,000 -Shailvee Sharda

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published Published on Nov 17, 2013   modified Modified on Nov 17, 2013
-The Times of India


LUCKNOW: A number of 'Akhilesh Yadav Laptops' distributed free of cost to Intermediate-pass students by the Samajwadi Party government with much fanfare are up for grabs at throwaway price in open market and online.

Several advertisements posted on the buy-and-sell websites are offering these laptops at a meagre Rs 4,000 to Rs 6,000. The ads have been posted by some recipients in Agra, Aligarh, Lucknow and Varanasi and flaunt 'Akhilesh Yadav Laptop' in the punchlines and product photo sections. The free laptop distribution scheme is a flagship initiative of Akhilesh Yadav's government. The scheme is said to be one of the main reasons behind SP victory in the 2012 UP assembly elections.

When TOI called up on the number given in one of the ads posted by Shashi Kiran of Agra, the male who answered the call was found working at a computer and mobile accessories shop in the Taj city. The man said though he was not selling any Akhilesh Yadav laptops he was ready to buy the same at the price displayed in the ad. He also said that many times, the laptop crashes and people do not know what to do with it. In that case we buy it like any other e-junk. The man, who introduced himself as Shashi, added that the effective price was fixed after an examination of the product.

A couple of others who had placed the ad, turned defensive on being contacted by TOI. They stated that they were not the ones who had posted the ad. "Someone has played mischief," said a girl from Varanasi. A male student from Aligarh, who had posted, "Main apna laptop jo aklesh yaday ne diya hai usko sell karna chahta hoon" and fixed Rs 4,000 for the device also disconnected the call and switched it off. Later, TOI saw that the advertisements were also withdrawn.

Besides online, beneficiaries keep making efforts to sell the Akhilesh laptops in the open market. Students carrying bag-packs given along with the free laptops can be seen loitering around the computer accessories markets of the city too. Preferring anonymity, some students shared the reason for getting rid of the computer. One of them said he was not able to afford the Net connection needed to utilise it. To another, genuine utility was the issue. "It is lying defunct as I don't have any use of it," said a girl.

Not only in Lucknow, such attempts are being made in other districts too. On June 3, Akhilesh Yadav distributed over 8,000 free laptops to first-year students in Ghaziabad and Noida. Within a week, students were ready with the deal and reasons to sell the freebie. "I already have a laptop so didn't need this one. I sold mine for Rs 7,000 to a senior the very day I got it," said a first-year student.

Shop-keepers in city's Naza market confided the software to override security measures programmed in the free computer was ready. One of them in fact claimed that on payment of Rs 250-400 you may get rid of its pre-programmed Samajwadi Party start up screen. Government officials stated that any effort to get rid of the startup picture would lead to crashing of the primary software. If claims of the shopkeepers are to be believed, the barrier has been crossed.

When asked to comment, secretary secondary education, Jeetendra Kumar said the government was aware of the matter. "We are tracking these ads and would initiate legal action against wrong-doers," Kumar said. In a press statement, however, senior Samajwadi Party leader Naresh Agarwal said no FIR will be lodged against any student who attempts to sell the laptop. "We will counsel them instead," he said.


The Times of India, 17 November, 2013, http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Beneficiaries-selling-Samajwadi-Party-laptops-for-Rs-4000/articleshow/25908761.cms


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