Thiruvananthapuram, Oct 25 (IANS): Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Monday inaugurated a scheme for distribution of laptops to all Scheduled Tribes students in the state, as part of Vidyakiranam project to ensure availability of digital devices for online learning.

In addition to this, all Scheduled Caste students studying in Classes 10 and 12 would also get digital devices in this phase itself, through social efforts.

A total of 45,313 students in 14 districts would be provided with laptops in the first phase, and the distribution would be completed in November.

The laptops, provided as part of this initiative, carry a three year warranty and comes pre-loaded with the FOSS-based operating system and educational applications developed by state-run KITE.

An agreement will be signed between the schools and the parent to ensure the proper upkeep of these devices. Each laptop costs Rs 18,000 (including GST) and laptops worth Rs 81.56 crore would be distributed within a month.

There are an estimated 3.5 lakh students in the general category who are in need of digital devices as part of the Vidyakiranam project.

Lakshmi Jayesh, Class 5 student in Thiruvananthapuram district, received the first laptop from Vijayan on Monday.