When Prime Minister Narendra Modi is busy handing over smart phones to otherwise marginalised women members of self-help groups (WSHGs) on Thursday at Sahibganj, somewhere in backdrop his narrative ‘Come… Make in India’ would also be getting considerable fillip.
Perhaps the PM’s idea of India would have been in minds of the State Government officials who went ahead ordering the smart phones from ‘Karbonn Mobiles Pvt ltd’ which is a rising telecommunications company of the country and a joint venture between Bangalore based United Telelinks limited and Noida’s Jaina Marketing & Associates.
Founded in March 2009 by Pradeep Jain, Karbonn Mobiles has a strategic tie-up with Sistema Shyam TeleServices limited. Though there is no official word from the Information & Technology Department about going for an Indian mobile firm. “It would not have been proper to refer any particular company but intent was there. The bids were also suitable and as per the condition exists here,” said a senior official.
The Prime Minister during his nearly two hours stay at Sahibganj would distribute the smart phones to couple of Sakhi Mandals personally. “The scheme is going to be launched on Thursday by the Prime Minister. Total 500 phones would be given to Sakhi Mandal women tomorrow. In total, one lakh such phones are to be distributed among the WSHGs over a period of time,” said IT Director Umesh Kumar Sah.
There are 72000 odd WSHGs across the State which would be covered with digital transaction through the smart phones. “The scheme is meant to bridge the digital divide and to promote paperless transactions. The women can transact among themselves through the smart phones. Even their collection fund can be deposited in their bank accounts without visiting the premise. Since lots of activities of the Sakhi Mandals involve financial transactions, the scheme would come handy for the women and their empowerment,” said the Director. The Government has sanctioned Rs30 crore for one lakh such smart phones to be distributed to SHGs.
Besides, the Prime Minister would be laying foundation stone for a bridge over the Ganga connecting Bihar with Jharkhand coming up at the cost of Rs1,955 crore. “A multi model indigenous port on the river at Sahibganj would also be built and the PM would lay foundation stone for that as well. The hub would comprise three forms of transport — railway, water ways and road — at one place,” said an official of the Chief Minister Office.
Union Minister of Road Transport, National Highway and Ports Nitin Gadkari besides, Chief Minister Raghubar Das and several of his Cabinet colleagues would remain present on the occasion. Also the Prime Minister is to distribute appointment letters to the Paharia primitive tribes for whom two special battalions have been raised, the officials added.