Government to offer reconditioned computers to needy persons, NGOs

Needy families, persons with disabilities and societies working in the community are to be given reconditioned computers for a nominal price, IT Minister Austin Gatt and Social Solidarity Minister Dolores Cristina said this morning.

Dr Gatt said this initiative, called SmartStart, fell within the government’s Smart Island vision for widespread use of information technology.

The government, he said, wanted to ensure that no one fell behind in the technological revolution.

Dr Gatt said the civil service is replacing its computers by leasing new ones. As a result, some 10,000 Pentium 3 and Pentium 4 computers which are still suitable for practical and domestic purposes will be reconditioned and given to those who cannot afford to buy computers.

The Pentium 3 computers will be sold for €130 and the Pentium 4 for € 180. The package includes a tower and monitor or laptop with licensed operating systems. The software will be Microsoft Office 2003 and Microsoft Encarta.

The persons eligible for the offer are those who receive social or unemployment benefit, persons with disability registered with the National Commission, Persons with Disability and NGOs.

Registration had to be made on forms available from Maltapost branches on Wednesday . Applications will be assessed by the Solidarity Ministry and the computers will be allocated according to the needs of the applicants.

Applications close at the end of March. Families can only be given one computer and NGOs can receive up to two.

Dr Gatt said persons who cannot immediately pay € 130 can apply in instalments by having €5 deducted from their social services payments, without interest.