Technology runs faster than the Punjab Government. Personal Computers have given way to the laptops and tablets during past two years, but Punjab Government could finalise its decision to help its legislators enter the hi-tech world only after over a decade.
Finally, after a wait of 11 long years, the Government has issued a letter asking all the legislators to buy computers and laptops or i-Pads of their choice. The decision came at a time when the SAD-BJP government is time and again faltering on its promise of distributing laptops to the students of Class XI and XII studying in Government schools — committed before the 2012 State Assembly polls.
After coming to power, laptops were replaced by tablets, and the promise to cover students of Class XI and XII was limited only to Class XII students. Punjab Governor in March announced that the Government would cover 1.5 lakh students of class XII at the cost of Rs 110 crore in the current fiscal year, while students of class XI to be covered in the next year. Even as more than half year has lapsed, the State Government is yet to fulfill its promise after two years of its second tenure.
“We have funds for the tablets for students. We have asked the education department to provide us the list…they have to act first,” Punjab Finance Minister Parminder Singh Dhindsa told The Pioneer. On the other hand, all the MlAs are all set to go hi-tech. The “cash-strapped” Punjab Government has set aside Rs 1.46 crore for 117 MlAs.
Punjab legislative Assembly has formally approved the announcement made in March 17, 2011, via a letter, stating that MlAs can buy a computer and printer up to range of Rs 65,000 and a laptop or an i-Pad up to range of Rs 60,000. The purchase of the computers or laptops has to be made by the MlAs themselves, and the Assembly would pay them for the same.
“All the MlAs have been asked to buy a desktop computer along with the multi-functional printer, UPS, and other accessories, besides a laptop or an i-Pad whichever they want to buy,” said an Assembly official. “The Assembly has set a limit of Rs 1.25 lakh for each MlA within which they have to make a purchase of both the things. In case, the cost exceeds than Rs 1.25 lakh, MlAs have to bear the exceeded amount by themselves,” he clarified.
The demand for giving laptops to the legislators was raised way back in 2002. In 2006, the State Finance Department had also cleared the proposal for providing laptops to all MlAs by spending Rs 85 lakh, but could not be realised. Three years later, the Bill was introduced in the assembly which was withdrawn at the eleventh hour. The laptops for MlAs were again proposed in 2011 budget session, and in 2013 State budget, it was announced to provide the same to the MlAs.