Chhattisgarh gives digital gift: To distribute 55 lakh Smartphones to women and youth

Raipur, May 18: A Smartphone is not only for using Social Media or playing games but it is a tool for you to get in touch with the world, with technology etc. Keeping this mind, Chhattisgarh Government has planned to distribute 55 lakh Smartphones among the youth and women.

This initiative will act as a bridge between Chhattisgarh people and technology. This first-of-its-kind initiative in India by a state to digitally empower its citizens is called the Sanchar Kranti Yojna (SKY) and will be conducted in two phases. In the first phase, 50 lakh smartphones will be distributed, of which 45 lakh will be given to rural women and urban women who are (BPL- below poverty line), and 5 lakh phones will be given to the youth.

It has been decided to distribute Micromax handsets in order to boost Make in India initiative and the 4G phone connections will be provided by Jio. Jio will install 1,600 new network towers across the state, including atop government buildings for free, and the government is encouraging more telecom service providers to follow suit. Under the scheme, for the first six months, the beneficiaries will get 1 GB data and 100 calling minutes free every month.

The allotted phone numbers will be pre-linked to the Aadhaar number and bank accounts of the beneficiaries, making it easier for them to directly benefit from government schemes and use banking services more efficiently.

The handsets and numbers will be given in the name of any female member of the family and also it will have pre-installed apps related to weather updates, job updates, health tips, Yoga Asana App etc.