It is raining goodies in Rajasthan for different sections of society as the Ashok Gehlot government is in an overdrive mode to keep everyone in good humour in the election year.
The latest in the line is the implementation of the Indira Gandhi Smartphone scheme.
Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot inaugurated the Indira Gandhi Smartphone scheme, marking the distribution of smartphones to women across Rajasthan. To date, around 700,000 women have received smartphones. This initiative, the brainchild of the State’s Congress government, is set to distribute 4 million smartphones in its initial phase. The beneficiaries are divided into three categories: widows receiving pensions, girl students, and women heads of families who have completed 100 days of work under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) scheme.
The smartphones come equipped with a new SIM card that offers complimentary unlimited calls for nine months along with 2 GB of mobile data. While the scheme theoretically offers a choice of nine smartphone models, the actual selection is contingent upon the stock available at the distribution centres, sources said.
As per media reports, among the recipients is Rasooli Bibi, an elderly woman estimated to be between 70 and 80 years old, who humorously remarks on her age uncertainty. With a newly issued smartphone in her grasp, Rasooli Bibi exemplifies the enthusiasm surrounding this initiative.
The value of these smartphones varies among the recipients. For some, it represents the family’s first smartphone, enabling improved access to online educational materials for their children. For others, it signifies a second or even third phone in the household, granting women exclusive ownership over a device they need not share with other family members.
The Rajasthan government, aware of the political landscape’s dynamism, has rolled out various welfare measures. These initiatives, including ration kits, free power, and medical insurance, have prompted discussions among the women waiting for their smartphones.
