Rajya Sabha MPs to get handhelds soon

Members of the elders house of Parliament, the Rajya Sabha, are soon to get
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 very shortly.

There has been concerted efforts to make Indian Parliamentarians tech-savvy.
To that extent, Indian MPs were first provided with laptops and desktops 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
notebook 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, Dr Heptullah rattled off names of all handhelds
manufacturers like Casio, Psion, 3Com and the like. "Off course I would
have to know about the different available products if I am heading a technology
committee," she quipped. 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."

(CNS)