Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh is considering giving free mobile phones to around 55 lakh people within two-and-a-half-years under the Chhattisgarh Communication Revolution Scheme (SKY), the highest priority of CM. A plan of Rs 230 crore has been prepared to achieve this initiative.
Around 50.80 lakh beneficiaries will be distributed phones in the current financial year 2017-18 and the next financial year 2018-19. It will include numbers of technical and non-technical colleges, including 40 lakh 10 thousand rural beneficiaries and five lakh 60 thousand urban poor.
It is estimated to cost Rs 1128 crore in the first phase. The remaining families will be given phones in the financial year 2019-20. This will cost additional Rs 102 crore.
In an announcement, Chief Minister Raman Singh informed, “The department has issued a notification for the Chhattisgarh Communication Revolution scheme from the ministry (Mahanadi Bhawan) here.” The execution of the scheme will be done through ‘chips’ of the state government’s electronics and information technology institute.
It was also informed that under this scheme, free phones will be given to the youth of every rural household, urban poor families, and colleges. And in case of a woman in the family, the phone will be given to the woman only.
The aim of this scheme is to give government services to the general public through the general service centers. Besides, the benefits of government and private services through smartphones can be easily availed and people participation in governance is also an aim of this scheme.
