Elcot awards Rs 278 crore order to HCL Infosystems

Elcot awards Rs 278 crore order to HCL InfosystemsThe Electronics Corporation of Tamil Nadu Ltd (Elcot) has awarded an order worth Rs. 278 crore to HCL Infosystems for a government program for supplying free laptops to students of schools and colleges in the state.

The company said that this order is the first phase of the Free Distribution of Laptops project that includes providing free laptops to students in Government and other state funded schools and colleges in the state. The first phase includes supplying 2 lakh laptops to the students.

Elcot is the responsible government agency for the five-year project and HCL has been selected as the leading vendor for the project. The free laptops will be provided to students in seven districts in 24 taluks and HCL will also set up service centers on the locations to provide maintenance services. The laptops will come with both, an open source 'BOSS’ operating systems as well as Microsoft Windows.

Mr A. P. S. Bedi, Executive Vice-President, HCL Infosystems pointed out that the project will increase PC penetration and will also provide access to technology to students in a democratic manner.

“The efforts made by the Government of Tamil Nadu and ELCOT for encouraging ICT enabled education are truly commendable and we look forward to this continued association,” he said.