While the Indian Government is making enthusiastic efforts towards total digital literacy, the divide between access to smartphones between men and women is proving to be a hurdle. Data from 2023 states that only 29% of Indian women are digitally literate as opposed to 59% of males. Central and state governments are working on various schemes to reduce this gap. One such scheme is the Indira Gandhi Free Smartphone Yojana or the Indira Gandhi Smartphone Scheme 2023.
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What is the Indira Gandhi Free Smartphone Yojana?
On August 10, 2023, Rajasthan’s Chief Minister, Ashok Gehlot, officially launched the Indira Gandhi Smart Phone Yojana to empower women with digital literacy, enabling them to access information about various state government programs and avail themselves of their benefits. The scheme will provide free smartphones to girls and women enrolled in classes 9 to 12 and complimentary internet services for three years.
Who will receive the smartphone under the scheme?
Every woman who holds a Janadhar card as the head of her household will receive a free smartphone as part of this program. The scheme aims to distribute smartphones to a total of 1 crore 40 lakh women. In the initial phase, 40 lakh women will receive smartphones. On the inaugural day of the scheme, 1,000 school and college girls received free mobile devices.
Eligibility Criteria
To benefit from the scheme, the woman or girl needs to meet the following criteria:
- Government school female students from 9th to 12th grade
- Female students pursuing higher education in colleges, ITIs, or polytechnic institutions
- Women beneficiaries receiving widows' or single women's pensions
- Women who have completed 100 days of employment under the MNREGA program as the head of their household
- Women who have completed 50 days of employment as the head of their household under the Urban Employment Guarantee Scheme
- Women who are the primary cardholders of Jan Aadhaar cards in their households.
- The annual family income must not be more than Rs 2.5 lakhs.
- The applicant’s family members must not be a government employee.
Documents required
Below are the documents needed to enroll in the scheme
- Aadhar card
- Jan Aadhar card.
- Passport Size Photo and Mobile Number
- Ration Card and Income Certificate
- Female student's ID card
- Widow/ single woman/pensioner's PPO card
The eligible beneficiaries can choose the smartphone and SIM card, including a high-end phone, for an additional cost. The eligible applicants can visit the official website for registration and enrollment in the scheme.
