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With free handhelds, Rajya Sabha MPs go tech savvy

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CIOL Bureau
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NEW DELHI: Members of the Rajya Sabha would soon be getting handhelds for official use. The decision has been taken by a Committee led by Dr.Najma Heptullah, Vice-Chairman of the House. Details of the decision are yet to be known as recommendations have been passed to an expert committee to find out the best pricing and best product. However according to industry grapevine, the order would most likely be bagged by erstwhile Compaq's handheld iPaQ, now rechristened HP i-PaQ. The order is expected to be finalized by the end of this week.



Concerted efforts have been made to make Indian Parliamentarians tech-savvy. You may recall that the Indian MPs were provided with laptops and desktops first; and now they would also have palmtops. According to Dr Heptullah, contrary to popular belief, Indian parliamentarians are quite tech-savvy and well versed with the use of technology. There has been a tremendous increase in efficiency with usage of e-mails and regular updates on the website of the proceedings at Rajya Sabha.



"Ours is one of the most efficiently run website. We hold regular training to familiarize our members with new technology. We think handhelds would be the next best thing for our members because it can be carried anywhere even when MPs are away in their respective constituencies."



Dr Heptullah is herself an accomplished user of gadgets and has been using a handheld for so many years that she has forgotten the last time she carried a note book in her bag. She has been using a computer ever since her husband imported an IBM computer way back in 1983. Well-versed with the usage of personal computing products, Heptuallah rattled off names of all handhelds manufacturers like Casio, Psion, 3Com and the like. "Of course I would have to know about the different available products if I am heading a technology Committee," she quips. Incidentally she started using a Casio and has now graduated to an iPaQ.



Computerization and its impact on the people at large has been a subject of concern with world leaders also. Said Dr. Heptullah, "In my last meeting with Li-Peng, the premier of China, we discussed the issue of equipping Parliamentarians with sophisticated technology which is expected to have a snowball effect on the masses. China is also now considering providing computing products to its members in the parliament."



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