A person learns quite fast when they have a computer at home," said Shashank Kumar, 21, a computer engineering student from Jodhpur, Bihar, who was one of five people selected in his northern state to travel to villages and demonstrate the device. "In just a few years people can even become hackers."
India, after raising literacy to about 78 per cent from 12 per cent when British rule ended, is now focusing on higher education with a 2020 goal of 30 per cent enrolment. Today, only 7 per cent of Indians graduate from high school.
"To every child in India I carry this message. Aim for the sky and beyond. There is nothing holding you back," Sibal said before distributing about 650 of the tablets to the students for free.
