The time bound distribution of 50 lakh phones under ‘Sanchar Kranti Yojna’ (SKY) has been announced by State Government. As per the programme, around 45 lakh womenin State would get the Smartphone while 5 lakh students will also be given Smartphone under the scheme. The distribution has been planned in two phases.
The distribution in urban area would commence from July 30 and continue till August 16. In the rural areas, it would begin from August 17 and continue till September 22, 2018. It is said that the Smartphone distribution scheme is first of its kind in the country.
Chief Minister Raman Singh said that under the scheme women and youth would be empowered and the target is to ensure mobile connectivity to the poor. It is one of the vital schemes in 14 years of tenure. The state government wants to ensure that each citizen has the right to be part of information service and transparent governance. The scheme would benefit all.
Chief Minister said that around 1500 mobile towers are being installed in the state which would provide better network to the mobile phone users. He added the state Information technology department; Chhattisgarh InfoTech Society (CHiPS) is preparing the time-bound plan for distribution. All the rural poor and urban families’ women and college level students would receive the Smartphone as per the social-economical census of 2011.
It would have one GB data and 100 calling minutes free for a month. The applicant can approach their nearest village panchayat office or Janpad office. In the first supplementary budget for fiscal year 2018-19, an allocation of Rs 566.79 crore has been made.
State government is planning to provide an application named as ‘Ghot’ through one click the user can get information regarding the central and state government welfare schemes and information. It would include different subject information related to women, farmers, children and youth. The subjects include farming, skill development, employment, education and schemes for different self-help groups. It would also provide information regarding the weather and farming useful tips to the farmers. The app would also provide Chhattisgarh’s folk culture and family related programmes. The users can also use the emergency services like Ambulance 108, Mahtari Express 102 ambulance, along with PDS through toll free helpline numbers, police helpline among others.
Chief Minister said that in Chhattisgarh have only 29 percent of mobile users which is lesser than states of Himachal, Sikkim and even Bihar. Few districts in state has less than 15 percent network connectivity like Sukma 7 percent, Bijapur 10 percent and Narayanpur 13 percent while the 10 districts have less than 50 percent network coverage. In rural areas of state 29% have mobile phone while the national average is 72%. In few districts like Janjgir-Champa district the network coverage is 74% but, 33 percent villagers does not have phone as they do not have purchasing power. Similarly in Raipur there is 88 percent of network coverage even then in rural areas the villagers have only 46% of mobile phone.
Keeping these in view, Chief Minister said that the scheme was formulated to install the mobile towers to increase the coverage and the poor be provided free mobile phones so that they can benefit from digital connectivity. It is expected that after the implementation of the scheme, people would get 4G high speed internet services and calling facility.