Smartphone Scheme
Smartphone Scheme is an important scheme launched by the Government of India. Under this scheme, SIM with smartphone and internet connectivity is distributed to the female heads of the family.
The main objective of this scheme is to advance the vision of Digital India and provide access to digital services and facilities to all citizens. The government believes that smartphones are an important tool for digital empowerment and inclusive development.
Key features of Smartphone Scheme
- Target Beneficiaries: The scheme mainly focuses on families living below the poverty line, SC/ST people and individuals coming from extremely poor backgrounds.
- Eligibility Criteria: Beneficiaries must fulfill certain prescribed eligibility criteria, such as having a National Identity Card/Aadhaar Card, having an income below the poverty line, etc.
- Free Smartphone: Eligible beneficiaries will be provided a smartphone completely free of cost. These smartphones will have basic features and functionalities like touchscreen, camera, internet connectivity etc.
- Data and Connection: In some states, beneficiaries may also be provided free data and internet connectivity for an initial period along with a free smartphone.
- Digital Literacy Training: Under this scheme, digital literacy training can also be provided to the beneficiaries to enable them to use smartphones, avail digital services and make them aware about cyber security.
Main objectives of the scheme
- This scheme is a unique initiative to empower girl students, widows and single women. This will increase awareness among women and they will play more role in the prosperity and progress of their families.
- With the help of smartphones, girl students studying in distant areas will be able to keep in constant touch with their families and do their studies online.
- Beneficiaries will be able to easily get information about the benefits of various public welfare schemes.
- Through the scheme, women will be made digitally literate, so that they will be able to take advantage of all the schemes and do banking related work themselves.
Smartphone scheme launched by state governments
Rajasthan
- On August 10, 2023, ‘Indira Gandhi Free Smartphone Scheme’ was launched in Jaipur by Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot while inaugurating mobile distribution camps in the state for women empowerment.
- Indira Gandhi Free Smartphone Scheme aims to provide free smartphones to the people with lower income and weaker sections of the country. Under this scheme, smartphones are provided to the eligible beneficiaries without any charges.
Uttar Pradesh
- On August 19, 2021, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Shri Yogi Adityanath has announced the launch of UP Tablet Scheme during his address in the Assembly.
- Under this scheme, free smartphones are being provided to one crore government school students and beneficiaries of government schemes in the state.
Gujarat
- Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel launched the distribution of financial assistance to farmers for the purchase of smartphones on 23 February 2022.
- The smartphone will facilitate farmers to get information about weather forecast, possible pest infestation, various schemes proposed by the Agriculture Department, modern farming techniques as well as experts’ opinions.
Chhattisgarh
- Chhattisgarh government has announced to provide free smartphones to 55 lakh families in 2 years under ‘Mukhyamantri Garib Kalyan Smartphone Yojana’ in the year 2018.
- Around 5 lakh smartphones have been distributed in the first phase of this scheme.
Click here to read this article in Hindi.
