Dhangadi, July 18

The government in Sudurpashchim Province is preparing to distribute laptops to members of the Provincial Assembly.

According to Provincial Assembly Secretariat Secretary Ramsingh Dhami, his office has received a consignment of 46 laptops meant to be distributed to PA members. “Though we had planned to distribute the  laptops by the fiscal-end, the same couldn’t happen as laptops didn’t reach us on time. They arrived only yesterday,” said Dhami, adding that the price of the laptops stood somewhere at Rs 2.7 million.

The PA Secretariat had called for tenders to supply 46 laptops to it by publishing a notice in a national daily on May 14. “Out of the three bidders who participated in the tender process, Dhangadi-based Ugratara Technical Goods Suppliers was selected. The company had proposed to supply laptops at Rs 60,300 each,” said Dhami.

Meanwhile, the government decision to distribute laptops to PA members to make them technology-friendly has drawn criticism from among the PA members.

While NCP (NCP) PA member Amar Saud described the government decision as misplaced priority, main opposition Nepali Congress PA member Karna Malla declared that he would boycott the facility. “At a time when people are fighting hunger and diseases, accepting a gift like this procured by digging into taxpayers’ money is nothing but misuse of state coffers. At least, I can’t accept this gift,” Malla said.