The state government has started providing financial assistance to students at the higher secondary level in government and aided schools so they can buy tabs. The government plans to support 16 lakh students.

Although the school education department was supposed to start transferring ₹10,000 to each student on September 5, coinciding with Teachers’ Day, the exercise could not be undertaken as the department decided against observing the day grandly in the wake of the rape and murder of the 31-year-old postgraduate trainee at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital on August 9.

The department issued an order on September 2 announcing the cancellation of the allotment of funds (₹16,00 crore) for the project. This triggered doubts about the implementation of the scheme.

On September 5, education minister Bratya Basu said that a section of media was reporting that the help would not provided at all citing the cancellation of the allotment of funds. Some people had started believing what was being circulated. This was “untrue” and assistance will be given but at a later date.

An official of the department said they have started transferring the funds directly to the bank account of each student from Friday.

The district inspector of schools in each district has been asked to oversee the successful transfer of funds.

The heads of the institutions have been informed that ₹10,000 will be disbursed to all the students of Class XI and XII. The recipients must share the message they receive from banks from 5pm on Friday.

“We promised that the funds will be transferred. The implementation was delayed because the observation of the Teachers’ Day was scaled down following the unfortunate incident at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital and the subsequent uproar regarding the incident. We believe the students will be immensely benefitted,” said an official of the department.

Enabling students to buy tabs under the Taruner Swapna Scheme was launched in 2021 during the pandemic.

Swapan Mandal, general secretary of the Bengal Teachers’ and Employees’ Association, said it was not clear to them why the project is being continued as online classes are not held anymore.

“The tab was necessary to enable students to attend online classes during the pandemic. Now the same funds could be utilised to improve the infrastructure of the schools,” said Mandal.

An official of the department said the tabs are being provided to help students search study materials online for a ready reference.