The Government is finalizing a Rs.7000 crore scheme to give one Mobile Phone to every family living below the poverty line (BPL Family) with 200 minutes of local calls worth Rs.100 for free, as some media sources claims.
The scheme will be called as Har Hath Mein Phone is expected to be announced by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on August 15 during 65th Independence Day, this scheme will help 28 million poor people (6 million family) across India to have access to free connectivity.
Sources claims that 50% cost of “Har Hath Mein Phone” scheme will be funded from the Department of Telecommunication’s Universal Service Obligation (USO) funds and rest of 50% of the cost of the scheme is likely to come from the bidder who gets the right to provide mobile phone service (Prepaid SIM Card) and the remaining 50% from the USO fund. The USO fund is meant for providing access to phone services to people in rural and remote areas at affordable prices.
The PMO is directly involved with the Planning Commission, PM’s advisor Sam Pitroda and Telecom Ministry in giving a final shape to this scheme. The Planning Commission and DoT have been asked to submit a final workable solution for this scheme by August 10, so that the Prime Minister can announce the scheme on 65th Independence Day – August 15.
Do you think mobile phone is need of the hour for poor people when the country is heading towards drought? Do share your views via comments.
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