LS secretariat sanctions Rs 50,000 for MPs to buy iPads

New Delhi, Dec 1: The Lok Sabha secretariat has sanctioned Rs 50,000 for each Member of Parliament (MP) to buy themselves an iPad.

"We are encouraging MPs to use iPads. This would save a lot of paper," said general TK Vishwanathan, Lok Sabha secretary.

Officials said that the MPs with the sanctioned money can buy themselves an Android based Samsung Galaxy Tab or Apple iPad.

According to officials, this could save a lot of paperwork in the office as the MPs are sent e-mails, notices, details of house proceedings and questions and answers in a printed format. Going tech savvy would help saving paper if the same was done by checking out the information using iPads.

"It is easier to retrieve and rearrange information in a digital format," said Vishwanathan.

The Lok Sabha secretariat has already started to reduce the printing of reports tabled in the House and uploading the reports on the official website instead.

"People can download this information and print it if they want," he said.

"I intend to buy an iPad," said SS Ramasubbu, Congress MP from Tirunelveli, Tamil Nadu. He also underwent the familiarisation session that was organised by the secretariat recently.

The progress of how well the paperless office drive did will be reviewed after the winter session, said Vishwanathan.

The secretary also said that he would make make selective areas in the Lok Sabha Wi-Fi enabled so that the MPs could have easy access to reports and also watch the House proceedings live.

Sources revealed that the house and chambers where the standing committee meetings were held may not have Wi-Fi keeping in mind security concerns.

The upper house of the Rajya Sabha and parliament is already Wi-Fi enabled, said officials.

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