After a fortnight, nearly 1.25 lakh youngsters in poll-bound Goa will be able to sign up for a free mobile calling and data service, thanks to the State Government's novel initiative, which allows those youth between the ages of 16-30 years to avail limited free data and calling at fast speeds.
Chief Minister laxmikant Parsekar on Friday told reporters, after a weekly Cabinet meeting, that the scheme, the first of its kind in the country, was in line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision for Digital India and was aimed at connecting youth across the State, especially in rural areas, and helping them network and enhancing their skillsets.
“This scheme is in line with the Digital India initiative of Government of India and will cover youth in the age group of 16-30 years. It is exclusively for the youth. Around 1.25 lakh youngsters are expected to be will be covered under the scheme but, they will have to apply,” Parsekar said.
As per the scheme, every registered youngsters possessing a valid government-issued identity card and a five-year domicile, will get 100 minutes of free talktime and free data up to one GB at the speed of two MBPS every month, along with a free SIM card.
Parsekar said that Reliance Jio, Idea and Vodafone had given offers to the state government, following which Vodafone who offered a price of Rs. 124.90, emerged as the lowest bidder and was selected. After a fortnight, Vodafone will set up 500 kiosks across the state to start registering the state’s youth for the scheme.
“Vodafone has good reach. The cost is being borne by the state government. The cost to us will be approximately one crore per month,” Parsekar said, adding that Goa was the first state in the country to come up with a free data and calling scheme.