Sundernagar, May 1 (IANS): Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh on Sunday launched 'Rajiv Gandhi Digital Student Yojna' here in this town in Mandi district, said an official statement.

The chief minister launched the scheme by giving away laptop computers to 86 students who achieved distinction in Classes 10 and 12 examinations.

The government will provide 10,000 laptops to the toppers of the Himachal Pradesh Board of School Education with an outlay of Rs.18.32 lakh, the statement said.

Virbhadra Singh said the state government was endeavouring to provide quality education to the students.

He said more than 1,000 schools have been opened or upgraded during the last three years, besides 24 industrial training institutes (IITs) and two engineering colleges.

The chief minister said 29 colleges have been opened during this period, taking the total number of colleges to 94.

Chief parliamentary secretary and local legislator Sohan Lal said the priority of the state was to provide basic education to all the children at their doorstep.

More than 30 schools have been either opened or upgraded in Sundernagar alone, he said.