Date:15/02/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/02/15/stories/2007021514810400.htm

Karnataka - Bangalore

Legislators' hi-tech acquisition

Special Correspondent

The Government has begun distributing laptops to people's representatives

GETTING TECH-SAVVY: Legislators getting the feel of the laptops that were given to them in Bangalore on Wednesday. — Photo: V. Sreenivasa Murthy

BANGALORE: The lounges of the Legislative Assembly and the Legislative Council went hi-tech on Wednesday with legislators carrying brand new laptops with them as the State Government commenced the distribution of Acer laptops to all its MLAs and MLCs as Suvarna Karnataka memento.

As many as 80 MLAs and 30 MLCs collected their laptops, costing Rs. 55,000 each, on Wednesday. The enthusiasm was visible as several legislators worked on their laptops at the lounges.

While the young legislators were at ease with the laptops, several elderly legislators were taking the help of others to use them.

An elderly legislator, who is also a former Minister, was struggling even to open the laptop. Finally, he took the help of other legislators to open it.

According to official sources, the Government also decided to provide a three-day training to them on using of laptops from February 19.