Free smartphones are all set to ring a bell for the youth in Punjab, for the manufacturing firm has ruled out any Chinese connection which had caused a disconnect despite the state government having 50,000 sets ready for distribution.
With the last hurdle cleared, the Government would soon distribute the 50,000 smart phones among the Class XI and XII girl students of state government schools under the Phase I of the scheme. “The company which has supplied 50,000 smartphones to the State Government has clarified that it has no connection with China,” said the Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh.
Capt Amarinder, interacting with the Punjab Youth Congress president and his team during a videoconference, said that the first batch of 50,000 smartphones had arrived from the company, which had now clarified that it had no connection with China. “These devices would be distributed first among Class XI and XII girl students of government schools, with priority to those who do not have smartphones so that their online learning can be facilitated during the coronavirus lockdown,” he added.
The issue of delay in fulfilling the party’s one of the major poll promise of distributing free smartphones to youths was raised by a Youth Congress leader.
Notably, the Chief Minister, on June 29 amidst India-China border tensions, had stated that the State Government would check the “involvement” of China in an Indian firm selected to deliver these smartphones. He had then informed that the State Government has given the contract to a firm — LAVA — for delivering smartphones to the State for its distribution among the state’s youth as per Congress’ pre-poll promise, and the government is checking if the firm has any Chinese connection.
Congress party had promised to give free smartphones to youths in the State in the run up to 2017 state assembly polls. The Congress had announced in its election manifesto that in order to “encourage and incentivize” youths to use digital technology in day-to-day lives, it would distribute free smartphones.