Date:11/10/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/10/11/stories/2006101111500400.htm

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

Laptops for 281 legislators

M Rajeev

Some 281 MLAs have been given "fully-equipped" laptops that have several advanced features and are to be loaded with dynamic software

Nadendla Manohar

HYDERABAD: Falling in line with Andhra Pradesh's image as the IT hub of the country, the State Legislative Assembly too has gone hi-tech.

The day is not too far when one can see the netas working on their laptops to get updated information about the ongoing works in their respective constituencies if efforts of the Legislative Assembly Speaker K.R. Suresh Reddy are any indication. Some 281 MLAs have been given "fully-equipped" laptops that have several advanced features like seven-in-one card reader, integrated blue tooth, Internet card and five-in-one printer (printer-scanner/copier/fax/phone). These laptops are retailed at Rs. 65,000 apiece.

Dynamic software

The biometric finger printing technology enabled laptops will soon be loaded with dynamic software to store and update constituency-specific issues for individual MLAs. An all-party committee of legislators constituted by the Speaker is holding parleys with leading companies for the software that is likely to be in place by the end of January. In addition, the legislators would also be provided with the digitised proceedings of the Legislative Assembly since the early 1950s. The digitisation work, according to Congress MLA Nadendla Manohar, who is coordinating the effort, is almost complete and they would be given in a DVD format.

Given the earlier experience with the desktops, the legislators would prefer to hand the laptops to their personal assistants or relatives, if the relevant information was not available. "The idea is not just to distribute the laptops, but to ensure that the legislators use them effectively by updating themselves with the information pertaining to their areas," he said.

Mr. Manohar and another Congress MLA, D. Sridhar Babu, who are members of the committee, said that they had put in all efforts to minimise the expenditure. As a result, the committee could secure the laptops for Rs. 50,000 apiece including the accessories.