Punjab Cabinet approves distribution of mobile phones to 2.15 lakh students

The Punjab Cabinet approved modalities for distribution of mobile phones to nearly 2.15 lakh students of Class 12 for the academic session 2021-22 under the Punjab Smart Connect Scheme.

The decision, aiming to facilitate seamless e-learning in government schools amid the Covid-19 pandemic, was taken during a Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh here on Monday.

The state government has allotted a budget of Rs.100 crore to the School Education Department for the scheme for the financial year 2021-22. Nearly 1,75,443 regular students studying in government schools have already been given mobile phones last year.

“Realising the benefit of imparting online education remotely to the students through the distributed smartphones, particularly in the adverse pandemic situation last year,” said a spokesperson of the Chief Minister’s Office, “it has now been decided to extend the scheme to the students to be admitted in Class 12 of the academic year 2021-22.”

The mobile phones to be distributed under the scheme shall have various smart features such as touchscreen, camera, and pre-loaded government applications such as e-Sewa App with e-content related to Class 12 as approved by the School Education department.

It may be recalled that the Punjab government had announced this scheme intending to provide digital access to youth and information regarding education, career and skill development, and employment opportunities besides basic citizen-centric services through government applications, etc.