Jaipur: Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot is all set to provide free smartphones to women in the state, with a three-year internet connection under Rajasthan Free Mobile Yojana 2023.
As per officials, it will directly benefit around 1.33 crore eligible women in the state.
Now, discussions are on if this scheme can be a game-changer in view of the assembly polls scheduled to be held in or before December 2023. If Gehlot can get votes from the women section by making them subscribers of smartphones and free data.
The scheme was announced during the budget speech for 2022-23. An amount of Rs 1,200 crore will be spent by the government on this Yojana which is decided to be implemented in three phases. The first phase will be during Rakshabandhan, in which it has been promised to distribute phones to 40 lakh women.
Gehlot said that if the proposed tender doesn't happen, such a facility will be made that women can buy mobile phones themselves as they will be transferred money in their bank accounts to buy mobiles. “Giving smartphones is a way to empower our women,” Gehlot added.
The scheme will script a new story of growth for the women in the state, according to the Congress spokesperson Swarnim Chaturvedi.
"There are many ambitious schemes being chalked out by the Congress government in Rajasthan which will directly help women. They can now avail a gas cylinder for Rs 500. Also, there are free medicines and health benefits being launched by the state government, and through the free mobile, they can stay updated on such schemes and get the benefits," Chaturvedi added.
Meanwhile, BJP leader Nimisha slammed the government by claiming that the Gehlot government has woken up late to make this announcement at a time when the world's cheapest internet services are being availed by women in India.
Nimisha further said that the women neither feel safe nor respected hence the government should focus on law and order rather than issuing such election freebies.
With inputs from IANS