The Hindu : New Delhi News : Laptops for Councillors

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Dec 31, 2004

New Delhi

New Delhi

Laptops for Councillors

By Our Staff Reporter

NEW DELHI, DEC. 30. In the New Year, the elected representatives of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi would literally go high-tech.

The MCD will become the first civic body in the country to provide laptops to all its 134 duly elected Councillors. The laptops - all IBM Think Pads -- are equipped with the latest user-friendly software and all the data related to the Corporation including the ongoing projects. It would also contain a compact discs containing Ward-wise annual budget.

According to the Leader of the House, Satbir Singh, the laptop would enhance the efficiency of the Councillors. Initially the laptops were to be issued only to those Councillors who had got the requisite computer training for which the MCD had run special classes. However, this clause was removed after less than a dozen of the 134 Councillors underwent the training.

"In case a Councillor cannot operate the laptop, his secretary or assistant can use it. So training is not necessary," Mr. Singh said.

Purchased at Rs. 50,800 a piece, the laptops would have to be returned to the MCD if the Councillors are defeated in the next civic polls in 2007, said the Municipal Commissioner, Rakesh Mehta.

However, referring to the experience of the Delhi Assembly, officials feared that only a few laptops would be returned to the MCD by the Councillors after the end of their tenure. Officials said not a single laptop was returned by the MLAs after the Delhi Assembly elections last year. "In fact, the MLAs are now demanding that they be given new laptops as the old ones were outdated," the official said.

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