This Indian Ministry has a valid point in nixing the $100 MIT notebook proposal

[astro]

The MIT $100 notebook proposal

HRD rubbishes MIT’s laptop scheme for kids

The ministry’s detailed objection based on technical, social and financial grounds was sent to the Planning Commission two weeks ago.

Negroponte had made a presentation on OLPC at Yojna Bhavan on April 7 seeking to sell one million laptops at the rate of $100 per unit for children, the cost to be borne by the government.

The idea has enough takers in the Plan panel. And despite HRD’s strong disapproval, Negroponte is coming to Delhi again on July 3 to hardsell his version of digital empowerment.

HRD contends that spending Rs 450 crore on digital empowerment can be better spent on primary and secondary education. "It is quite obvious that the financial expenditure to be made on the scheme will be out of public funds.

It would be impossible to justify an expenditure of this scale on a debatable scheme when public funds continue to be in inadequate supply for well-established needs listed in different policy documents," the ministry said

[Dervorin]

I agree. One million children is a tiny fraction of the number that could be better educated with Rs. 450 crore spent on conventional education. Once basic primary education infrastructure exists, you can think about spending on laptops. Not before.

Of course, a lot more money could be spent on education, and much less on the military, IMHO. But that’s another issue entirely.