The Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) may be beset with financial problems. But that has not stopped the civic body from deciding to equip all its 198 corporators with high-end laptops.
According to sources, the palike will provide laptops to the councillors to keep them technologically updated and make them use them to ensure better execution of work in their respective wards.
“The laptops will have all the latest features with internet facility. The councillors can use the laptops for upgrading their knowledge,” the sources said.
Ironically, not many councillors know that they are being provided with the laptops.
“There are councillors who are tech-savvy and carry their own laptops and there are also those who lack basic knowledge of computers. Providing laptops to the latter may not help. Only their relatives and cronies may make most of the opportunity,” a BBMP official said under the condition of anonymity.
A source said that the BBMP was planning to buy high-end laptops from Dell or Sony.
“Each laptop will cost about Rs50,000 and internet connectivity will be extra. This may result in at least Rs 99 lakh expenditure. But before providing the laptops, the BBMP will first have to train the councillors on how to use them,” the source pointed out.
When contacted, deputy mayor S Harish only said that there was a plan to provide laptops to the councillors but it was still in preliminary stages.
