kochi union human resource development minister mm pallam raju distributed tablet computers to seven students who had the sslc examination with a in all subjects in 2011 on sundayalmost 55 crore of our population is below 25 years of age and if empowered they can make a significant difference and contribute to the growth of the country what is important today is how students utilize technology looking at its utility saidrajuhe was speaking at the vidya jyoti programme launched by union minister kv thomas to encourage students from schools in ernakulum the tablets were distributed at a function at st teresas college auditorium on sunday266 students were given tablet computers costing rs 8500 each the programme is supported by various central and state psus as well as private companies in the second phase all students studying in class xi at st peters school kumbalangi would be given tablet computers on january 21 by the chief minister oommen chandythis programme is the latest in the series of initiatives taken by union minister kv thomas to encourage students he had undertaken another scheme called vidya poshanam poshaka samrudham for providing nutritional food to 17000 students belonging to 50 schools in his constituency under this programme an additional rs 5 is being spent for each student a day to the rs 6 spent by the state government for the midday meal scheme