2.14 lakh govt school students to get free smartphones next year

CHANDIGARH: The Punjab government has proposed to give free smart mobile phones to 2,14,714 students of Class 12 during financial year 2021-22, said sports and youth service minister Rana Gurmit Singh Sodhi in the state assembly on Friday.

Sodhi made the announcement during the question hour while responding Akali MLA Harinderpal Singh Chandumajra’s query regarding the conditions imposed by the state government for smartphones under the Punjab Smart Connect Scheme and the number of youth who will have been given free phones and how many will be given in future. The minister said the government had started the distribution process on August 12 and given phones to 1,74,453 boys and girls of Class 12 in government schools.

Chandumajra said the Congress had got forms filled from youth in the run-up to the 2017 assembly polls, but took four years to start implementing it. “Unauthorised persons were going to schools in groups to distribute phones to Class 12 students for photo-ops when Covid-19 was at a peak in the state. “When will you give phones to those who had filled the forms?” he asked. The minister said the government had not stopped the scheme and would continue to distribute free phones.

HIKE IN WELFARE PENSION SOUGHT

Social security and women and child development minister Aruna Chaudhary said that her department had sent a proposal to finance department for an increase in old-age pension, widow pension and financial assistance for handicapped persons. “We will have to wait for the budget to see what can be done,” she said in response to Congress MLA Avtar Singh Junior’s question.