Mamata Banerjee has said the administration will transfer Rs 10,000 each to the accounts of 9.5 lakh Class XII students at government or government-aided schools to buy tablets or smart phones for online classes as companies expressed inability to supply such a large number of devices on time.

The Bengal chief minister had on December 3 announced tablets for Class XII students studying at 14,000-odd government or government-aided schools and 636 madrasas.

“We were informed that we could get supply of a maximum of 1.5 lakh tabs. As the Centre has asked not to go for Chinese products, we have decided to give Rs 10,000 each to Class XII students. Within three weeks, we will start transferring money,” said the chief minister at Nabanna on Tuesday.

Sources at Nabanna said officials, who had held meetings with companies making tablets before floating tenders, learnt that only three firms would be able to supply them. The company representatives apparently informed them that each one of them could supply only about 15,000 tablets a month.

“Two of the major companies informed the officials that they would not be able to supply the device for two reasons. First, enhancement of production was not possible in the backdrop of the Covid-19 pandemic. Second, as the companies don’t focus on production of tablets on large scale because of lack of demand, it was not possible to meet the huge demand,” said a senior government official.

Sources said if the government had accepted the proposal, it could have secured supply of about 1.5 lakh tablets till May next year.

“But the target was to supply tablets at least three months before their higher secondary exams, which are likely to be held in June. So, it was decided that students would be given Rs 10,000 each so that they could buy digital devices on their own,” said a senior government official.

The officials feel if so many tablets were not available in the markets, the students could buy smartphones, which would also help them attend online classes once the schools started imparting online training.

Trinamul insiders said the decision to give Rs 10,000 would help the ruling party ahead of the polls as the students would be able to buy smart phones or tablets much earlier.

A section of the officials said the government should develop a mechanism to ensure that the funds transferred for the purpose were not misused. “I don’t know how the government would monitor whether the money is going to be spent for the intended purpose... But a mechanism should be developed before the funds are transferred. Otherwise, public funds would be misused,” said an official.