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When Naidu boots, he boots alone

The State has put at the disposal of the ministers, a subsidy-cum-loan scheme for acquiring personal computers, but the ministers are not interested.

T O D A Y

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Only one out of the 27 ministerial colleagues of Naidu and 64 members of the legislative assembly are willing to avail of the loan and subsidy assistance to buy laptops/personal computers through the AP Technology Services Limited.

The lone minister, of course, is Finance and Legislative Affairs Minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju, who has opted to have a laptop for his personal use.

The other ministers, apparently, do not want to become computer literate. Under the scheme, ministers are eligible for an advance of Rs 150,000 for purchase of laptops out of which 50 per cent is outright grant and 50 per cent is loan.

The loan is recoverable in 23 monthly instalments and interest at 8.5 per cent in two equal instalments.

The legislators, on the other hand, are entitled to purchase personal computers on subsidy-cum-loan basis at a cost of Rs 89,000, of which the government will provide a grant of Rs 54,500 and a loan of Rs 17,250 to be recovered from the salaries of the members. The remaining Rs 17,250 has to be contributed by the member from his personal resources.

Those who wish to purchase computers of higher configuration can do so provided they meet the additional cost on their own.

- Compiled from the Indian media

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