PMC approves purchase of tablets worth Rs25 crore for municipal school children

The standing committee of the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) on Tuesday approved to purchase tabs worth Rs25 crore for kids learning in the municipal school

The standing committee of the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) on Tuesday approved to purchase tabs worth Rs25 crore for kids learning in the municipal school.

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Republican Party of India (RPI)’s leader Siddharth Dhende had given a proposal in front of a standing committee to provide tabs for all the kids as they are facing many problems of online education.

Dhende said, “Due to the lockdown and Covid-19 pandemic, the schools were closed. As the schools were closed, the PMC did not distribute the books, uniforms, school bags and shoes. The Rs17 crore budgetary provisions for it are lying idle. Even this year, the schools would be offline.”

Dhende said, “It is officially proven that many kids did not able to attend online schools as they did not have smartphones or internet connections. If the PMC would provide tabs to kids learning in the PMC-run schools, it would be beneficial to them.”

Standing committee chairman Hemant Rasne said, “We approved the proposal submitted by Dhende. There is budgetary provision for the school department which would be utilised for it.”

NCP leader Nitin Kadam said, “Few years before the PMC had purchased the tabs which are lying ideal. If those tabs would get utilized, PMC would not need to purchase more tabs. The education department officers confirmed to the standing committee that they would give the exact figure of the previous tabs which are with the education department.”

BOX 1

The standing committee of the PMC approved the proposal to acquire various lands for metro projects executed by Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority (PMRDA). The PMRDA is executing the metro project in between Hinjewadi to Shivajinagar. The maximum part of this line is passing through the PMC limit. PMRDA requested the PMC to acquire land for entry and exit of the metro stations in the PMC limit. PMC municipal commissioner Vikram Kumar put the proposal in front of the standing committee for approval, which was approved by the standing committee.

BOX 2

The standing committee of the PMC on Tuesday gave the nod to sell the PMC owned 1,512 flats to the tenants who have been occupying it for the last several years.

Standing committee chairman Hemant Rasne said, “It would help to get more revenue to the PMC. The tenants are using it for the last several years and getting very nominal rents. The city improvement committee approved it on Monday and now standing approved it.”

Meanwhile, the NCP city unit president objected to the decision taken by the standing committee and blamed that ruling party took this decision without keeping opposition parties in loop.