<p>The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike distributed Apple iPads to its 198 elected councillors and 27 nominated members just 48 hours after announcing the scheme.</p>.<p class="bodytext">While the total cost of the gadgets was Rs 91.35 lakh, the BBMP will also be spending Rs 7.65 lakh to train the members in using the device.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The gadgets were distributed at the council meeting, convened to discuss the 2018-19 BBMP budget, presented on February 28. </p>.<p class="bodytext">The BJP members expressed objections over not following the tender process to procure the tablets, though they had no problems in accepting them. Barring Opposition member Padmanabha Reddy, everyone else took the iPads given to them.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Leader of BBMP's ruling party M Shivaraju said: "In 2017-18, the IT department had been allocated Rs 4 crore, from which it bought 225 iPads. Each iPad costs Rs 38,600 and the pouch Rs 2,000. The total expenditure will be Rs 44,000, including the training to use the tablet."</p>.<p class="bodytext">Reddy said officials take inordinate time to implement social welfare programmes and to distribute sewing machines, bicycles and laptops for students, but they show unusual speed in giving tabs to council members.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Paperless BBMP </p>.<p class="bodytext">Shivaraju said the tabs are introduced to make the BBMP paperless. The devices have been bought through KEONICS and they have 4G data access. The latest effort towards technology use comes after the civic body gave high-end laptops to the members in 2011.</p>
<p>The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike distributed Apple iPads to its 198 elected councillors and 27 nominated members just 48 hours after announcing the scheme.</p>.<p class="bodytext">While the total cost of the gadgets was Rs 91.35 lakh, the BBMP will also be spending Rs 7.65 lakh to train the members in using the device.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The gadgets were distributed at the council meeting, convened to discuss the 2018-19 BBMP budget, presented on February 28. </p>.<p class="bodytext">The BJP members expressed objections over not following the tender process to procure the tablets, though they had no problems in accepting them. Barring Opposition member Padmanabha Reddy, everyone else took the iPads given to them.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Leader of BBMP's ruling party M Shivaraju said: "In 2017-18, the IT department had been allocated Rs 4 crore, from which it bought 225 iPads. Each iPad costs Rs 38,600 and the pouch Rs 2,000. The total expenditure will be Rs 44,000, including the training to use the tablet."</p>.<p class="bodytext">Reddy said officials take inordinate time to implement social welfare programmes and to distribute sewing machines, bicycles and laptops for students, but they show unusual speed in giving tabs to council members.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Paperless BBMP </p>.<p class="bodytext">Shivaraju said the tabs are introduced to make the BBMP paperless. The devices have been bought through KEONICS and they have 4G data access. The latest effort towards technology use comes after the civic body gave high-end laptops to the members in 2011.</p>
