The Chhattisgarh Infotech Promotion Society (CHiPS) will soon be selecting an implementation partner for Sanchar Kranti Yojna (CG-SKY) project, officials said.
The Government has taken a leap forward to design the Sanchar Kranti Yojna (CG-SKY) for providing a solution to improve the telecom connectivity in the state of Chhattisgarh by incentivizing the telecom operators to install Cell-Sites, they informed.
In order to create commercial viability for Telecom operators to invest in the network infrastructure the Government will also distribute approx. 50 lakh Smartphones.
The primary objective is to ensure the mobile network connectivity is extended to all villages in state of Chhattisgarh with a population of 1000 or above as per the 2011 census and to further strengthen network coverage in all towns and villages, which already have coverage by either erecting new telecom towers or upgradation of existing towers
Based on preliminary assessment, besides the urban areas, approximately 14,000 villages will come under network connectivity and approximately 50,80,000 Smartphones will be distributed under the CG-SKY scheme.
The Government plans to initiate the Smartphone distribution by April 2018 and complete 100% Smartphone distribution by the end of March 2019. For ease of distribution and in order to ensure effective implementation, the distribution period has been divided into two stages with the first such stage witnessing distribution of approximately 48,00,000 (Forty eight lakh) Smartphones by end of August 2018 and the second stage witnessing distribution of the remaining approximately 2,80,000 Smartphones by end of March 2019.
The scheme would cover all villages and towns in the State of Chhattisgarh, except those villages having less than 1,000 population and not having connectivity. It may be noted that villages with less than 1,000 population, but having connectivity shall be considered for the CG-SKY, officials informed.
Under this scheme, one Smartphone each is to be distributed to each beneficiary household and eligible College Student. The distribution will need to be done through an event/ distribution camp being organized by the State Government at each Distribution Centre (GP/ Ward/ College).
The number of mobile phone connections in Chhattisgarh has reached more than 1.66 crore during the last 17 years, officials informed.
Whereas at the time of State formation the number of mobile connections were close to nil, they informed.
Telephone density in state is 65.92% and national average is 80.44%.
With the aid of Central Government, State Government is continuously developing and expanding mobile communication network for promoting communication revolution in Chhattisgarh.
More than 2000 Gram Panchayats have been linked through national optic fiber network by Bharat Sanchar Nigam limited (BSNl).
CHiPS, under State Government's Information and Technology Department, is operating more than 5000 public service centres, wherein caste and domicile certificates, marriage certificates, birth-death certificates are issued and 37 other government services are provided online.
Meanwhile, Chhattisgarh Government has also started Bastar Net Project in seven districts of Naxal-affected Bastar Revenue Division, with the support of Central Government, to expand telecommunication network. Under this project, nearly 832 km long optical fiber cable ring system will be laid at the cost of Rs 40 crore.