A proposal to provide 20,000 smart school bag-cum-desk units to students in government-run schools across the Andaman and Nicobar Islands has been placed before the Union Ministry of Power and New and Renewable Energy, seeking corporate social responsibility support from power sector public sector undertakings.
Member of Parliament from the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Bishnu Pada Ray, has written to the Minister of State for Power and New and Renewable Energy, Shripad Yesso Naik, requesting intervention to facilitate CSR funding for the supply and distribution of the innovative learning aids. The initiative is aimed at students from economically weaker sections studying in government schools and Vivekananda Kendra Vidyalayas operated under the Zilla Parishads in the islands.
According to the proposal, the smart school bags are designed to be converted into portable desks, addressing a long-standing infrastructure gap in several remote and geographically isolated parts of the archipelago. Many schools in far-flung islands function with limited classroom furniture, and students often lack access to basic facilities such as desks and benches. The bag-cum-desk units are intended to provide students with a stable writing surface and improve classroom learning conditions, particularly in areas where permanent infrastructure is difficult to establish.
The Member of Parliament informed the ministry that a non-governmental organisation, Need for Good Foundation, which works in the area of social welfare and educational empowerment, has expressed its willingness to implement the project. The NGO has indicated that it can undertake distribution of the smart bag-desk units based on an approved design, subject to the availability of CSR support from power sector public sector undertakings.
The representation highlights the unique socio-geographical challenges faced by the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, which consist of scattered islands with dispersed habitations. A significant number of students in these areas belong to low-income families and depend entirely on government-supported institutions for education. In such settings, logistical constraints and limited resources often hinder the provision of adequate school infrastructure.
The proposed distribution of smart bag-desk units is projected to support regular attendance and improve learning outcomes by offering students a basic but essential study aid. The portable nature of the units is expected to be particularly useful for students who travel long distances or attend schools in temporary or shared facilities.
The Member of Parliament has requested the ministry to issue appropriate directions to power sector public sector undertakings under its administrative control to consider extending CSR assistance for the initiative. The appeal underlines the role of CSR funding in supplementing public efforts to strengthen educational access and infrastructure in remote regions.
If approved, the project would involve large-scale distribution of the units across government schools and Vivekananda Kendra Vidyalayas in the islands, covering students from vulnerable backgrounds. The matter is currently under consideration, with the request emphasizing the need for coordinated support from central public sector entities to address educational infrastructure gaps in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
