Ban Ki-moon

India recently launched its low-cost Aakash 2 tablet PC at the United Nations in the presence of UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and other member nations. Datawind, the company which was assigned to design, develop and manufacture the device, also gave a presentation on it. Speaking at the launch, India’s Permanent Representative, Hardeep Singh Puri said, “With pricing determined through an open international tender, Aakash 2 is the world’s lowest cost tablet at end-user pricing. It harnesses top of the line technologies at costs which the neediest can embrace. The technologies and applications that have been put in it, are indeed the world’s best. It bridges the digital divide within our societies,” he said. In India, the National Mission on Education through Information Communication Technology will equip 220 million students across the country with low cost tablets and internet access. The government is subsidising 50% of the cost of this device. With state governments and local institutions along with other development partners chipping in, the devices will ultimately be, made available free to all students.