Congress, NCP demand scrapping plan to distribute tablet PCs in schools

MUMBAI: Mumbai Congress chief Sanjay Nirupam today demanded that the Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai scrap the plan to distribute "outdated" and overpriced tablet PCs to 23,000 students of municipal schools.

Nirupam alleged that while many other better tablets were available, the Shiv Sena-controlled MCGM was promoting the tablets of Videocon, owned by the Sena MP Rajkumar Dhoot.

The proposal to give tablets to class 8 students was passed earlier this week by the standing committee of MCGM.

"Congress is not against use of advanced technology in teaching. Latest models of tablet PCs are available at cheaper rates. But Shiv Sena wants to promote an outdated product... priced at Rs 6,800," he alleged.

Global tenders should have been invited for procuring the tablets, he said, alleging a possible scam of Rs 239 crore, and threatening to move the court.

"Normally, a company choses a good PR to sell products. But for the first time a political party's leader was chosen as a sales manager and he met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and gifted him the tablet," Nirupam said, referring to Sena youth wing chief Aditya Thackeray's recent meeting with Modi.

NCP also made the same allegation.

"Tablet PCs with better specifications are available, but MCGM is favouring Videocon, whose owners are close to Sena," said Nawab Malik, NCP leader.

However, Shiv Sena refuted the allegations. "We had called for tenders and we chose the company which bid the lowest. Every system has been followed...MCGM does not want to promote anybody," said Sena corporator Trishna Vishwasrao.

"There was also a HC order on reducing the weight of schoolbags as children face health problems due to heavy bags. The tablets are of high quality and they will have the entire curriculum uploaded," she said.