Categories: Future Tech

Free Smartphones for 400 million Poor Indians

The Government of India has announced distribution of free smartphones to around 400 million Indians through the recently announced Aadhar based direct cash transfer scheme.

The path breaking direct cash transfer scheme will facilitate direct cash payout of subsidies to beneficiaries starting next year. The scheme which is expected to bring down corruption will now come with an additional incentive to poor Indians in form of a smartphone that will have mobile banking facilities enabled on the smartphone itself.

According to HT article, this free smartphone scheme will cost Rs. 7000 crore. The phone will also have 100 hours of free talktime, 500 free SMSes and free internet which will allow users to use mobile banking services based on Aadhar numbers.

The free smartphone scheme will be launched in conjunction with direct cash transfer scheme on January 1st 2013. HT article also mentioned that half of funding for this scheme will come from telecom department’s Universal Service Obligation funds and half of it will be bourne by service provider who wins the bid.

How does this help?

Well, I think, the Aadhar project is taking its baby steps ahead and if corruption has to be checked using the way they have planned, it is important that the poor should have decent access to banking facilities. The best way definitely will be cell phones. I am not really sure how many of them will be able to use smartphones or even what kind of smartphones the Government plans to distribute.

Nonetheless, it is a definite way ahead. Now the question arises, how do they check there is no corruption during this distribution process?

And yes, with so many benefits being announced around the Aadhar card, I guess many will have to make a run and get one soon.

Prateek Panda

Prateek is the Founder of TheTechPanda. He's passionate about technology startups and entrepreneurship and enjoys speaking to new founders every day. Prateek has also been consistently regarded as one of the top marketing experts in the region.

Recent Posts

Indian esports makes history at BRICS Esports Championship in Moscow

In a historic moment for Indian esports, Wasfi “YoshiKiller” Bilal secured a silver medal at…

8 hours ago

Geek Appeal: New gadgets & apps on the block

The Tech Panda takes a look at recently launched gadgets & apps in the market.…

10 hours ago

Ecosystem harkat: India’s Biotech & space tech, early stage tech startups & women entrepreneurs in blockchain

The Tech Panda takes a look at what’s buzzing in the startup ecosystem. The startup…

11 hours ago

Harris vs. Trump: Forecasting Bitcoin’s Future in a Post-Election Economy

With just days until the outcome of the U.S. presidential race, Bitcoin enthusiasts across the…

1 day ago

USDT Controversy: Tether Denounces WSJ’s U.S. Investigation Claims as ‘Irresponsible Journalism’

The Wall Street Journal released an article  claiming that the U.S. has launched an investigation…

1 day ago

Transforming green finance for Indian SMEs: The AI & Fintech revolution in rural development

The financial industry is undergoing a remarkable evolution as the confluence of technology and sustainability…

4 days ago