UP Govt offers free tablets, mobiles to students for online study

Lucknow: In a cabinet decision taken on Tuesday, the Uttar Pradesh state government has announced it will distribute free smartphones and tablets to students and skilled workers across the state. The official statement by the government said the decision was made in light of online classes becoming mainstream during the pandemic and helping students gain access to classes and educational material.

The scheme will cost around ₹3000 crores and is aimed at increasing "technical empowerment" amongst students in teaching/training programmes like graduation, postgraduation, diploma, skill development, paramedical and nursing etc in the state. The youth enrolled in the higher education, technical education, health education, skill development training, ITI and 'Seva Mitra' portal of the state can also avail of the free devices.

The 'Seva Mitra' platform is also key to the process of technical empowerment as it trains applicants to be nursed, electricians, mechanics etc, which are professions that will benefit from increased use of technology, the government statement said. Additional beneficiaries will also be added to the category under the discretion of the Chief Minister's office.