The much awaited distribution of free smartphones and tablets is expected to commence from December 20 when in the first phase over 6.8 million students will be handed over the gift by the Yogi Adityanath government of Uttar Pradesh.
The UP government had announced plans to provide free smartphones and tablets to over 10 million students and the state cabinet had sanctioned Rs 3,000 crore for the scheme in October last.
Official sources here said on Saturday that the tablets would be given to students of technical education, medical education and vocational courses while smartphones would be given to students pursuing undergraduate and post-graduate courses in degree colleges and state universities.
The financial tender for the purchase of tablets and smartphones from nodal agency UPDESCO has been completed. The supplies will be made by companies like Samsung, Acer and Lava. The three companies will supply a tablet at a rate of Rs 12,700, while Lava and Samsung will supply smartphones at Rs 10,700 per piece. The tender will be approved by the cabinet as soon as the approval of the evaluation committee is received.
Additional Chief Secretary (Industrial Development) Arvind Kumar said that the distribution of smartphones and tablets would start from December.
In the first phase, the state government will provide smartphones and tablets to 68 lakh students pursuing various courses including undergraduate, post-graduate, technical, and diploma, and skill development, paramedical and nursing.
According to information, the distribution of tablets and smartphones will start after December 20. It will be distributed in a grand ceremony by the hands of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.
As per the eligibility, students studying in technical education institutions, students undergoing training in technical education (diploma), those undergoing training in ITIs, those pursuing BSc and MSc nursing courses in government and private medical colleges, dental courses (MBBS, MS, MD, BDS) and paramedical course will get tablets.
Undergraduate and post-graduate students, skilled workers registered on the Seva Mitra portal, MSME department's Vishwakarma Shram Samman Yojana, Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes self-employment training scheme, backward class training scheme and trainees registered in the training scheme of ODOP will get smartphones.
UPDESCO MD Kumar Vineet said that more than 40 lakh students had registered so far.