Blackberry, digital cams for AMC school board officials

AHMEDABAD: The senior officials of school board of Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) will now be armed with digital cameras and an high end model of Blackberry mobile phones from school board administrative officer. While, more than 200 computers meant for school children are lying unused for last two months.

Recently, these proposals were cleared by school board chairman, Manu Raval, who reasoned that the digital cameras will minimise the expenditure incurred by the board on photography done by private parties.

Raval says, "The five digital cameras will be handed to each of assistant administrative officer for taking pictures on their own rather than asking for private photographers."

"We have a number of cultural, sports and educational activities conducted in the schools which need to be recorded for official purposes," added he.

However, administrative officer, school board will now be able to flash the Rs 16,000 Blackberry handset for official purpose. Raval says, "Blackberry has been given to class I officer as he has to keep a tab on emails from government and other agencies."

On the school board issues, opposition members of Congress party staged a walkout in protest of alleged corruption in school board activities on Monday. The Opposition members blamed the school board authorities of not doing much for improving the standard of education in the municipal schools.

There are 471 municipal schools under AMC, Habib Mev of School board says, "Earlier, the school board disposed of more than 400 computers and now 200 computers meant for school children are yet to be installed. They talk about use of technology for their own personal use rather than for the much needy students."