Students demand computers,demonstrate at south Goa collectorate

Panaji, Jan 20 (UNI) Around 800 undergraduate students today demonstrated in front of the south Goa district collectorate and resorted to a 'rasta-roko' in Margao city in protest over denial of computers under the much-hyped 'CyberAge Scheme', a brainchild of the BJP Government, which it had instituted in the year 2002.

Police had to employ force to disperse the irate students.

The slogan shouting students, which included some females too, met the Education Minister Luizinho Faleiro at the latter's residence and dispersed only when the Minister fixed an appointment with the Chief Minister Pratapsingh Rane on Monday, to discuss this issue.

Mr Faleiro later told UNI that the entire scheme would entail an expenditure of at least Rs 10 crores, since computers have got to be disbursed to nearly 5,000 students as of now.

''The BJP Government headed by Manohar Parrikar which had introduced the scheme, later himself denied the computers to the students in 2002 itself, on grounds of 'hostile discrimination','' he pointed out.

''These students, who are now about to complete their graduation courses, resorted to this demonstration for no fault of our government. Anyway the matter would be discussed with the Chief Minister on Monday,'' he added.

UNI