IIT Kanpur starts fundraising campaign to provide laptops, broadband to 600 students

In a ble initiative, Indian Institute of Techlogy Kanpur has started a fundraising campaign for students of lower ecomic backgrounds who cant afford a laptop and broadband connection. crisis triggered by Coronavirus pandemic has forced educational institutions throughout world to go for online teaching and classes.

IIT Kanpur has taken decision to go completely online for first semester (2020 -21) but faces a logistical hurdle in implementing this policy for Undergraduate students who come from poorer backgrounds and hence, cant afford necessary hardware like laptops and broadband connections to support online education.

Institute says it has 600 such students and estimate that cost of each laptop and broadband connection, which many students require, is approximately Rs. 50,000. To cover expenses, total amount required is nearly Rs 3 crore.

In a statement on its website, Institute has called ppn its alumni to step in for initiative. "Our Alumni have consistently given back to institute, which has enabled institute to undertake projects and initiatives that would orwise have t been possible... We thus request you to support us in this initiative and help current students of ir alma mater obtain best possible education to succeed in life. We hope to have one alumnus supporting one student that will make process of helping students smoor and more transparent."

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Promotion on academic performance

IIT Kanpur will promote students depending upon ir performance in semesters. Recently, decision was taken by IIT Kanpur Senate. se students also include final year graduating students. director of IIT Kanpur, Abhay Karandikar, said that as a one-time exception, all students will be awarded grades for ir courses based on mid-semester exam/projects. He furr added that y have closed semester (2019-20) for all students considering  extraordinary disruption in semester including summer term.

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