Punjab Smart Connect Scheme

Punjab government launched “Smart Connect Scheme” on August 12, 2020. The launch of the scheme was organised at different locations like all headquarters and some major towns in Punjab and Chandigarh. Under this scheme, free smartphones are distributed to Class 12 students mainly to help the students to access online global web content through smart phones and study accordingly.  This smartphone distribution is being made in phases. The first phase came to an end in November and yesterday on December 18, 2020, CM launched the second phase of the scheme.

Scheme Overview:

List of scheme lunched by Punjab Government

Scheme Objectives and Benefits:

• The main objective of the scheme is to provide the students with free smartphones to help them access the educational content online
• In the current situations, some children and their families are facing financial difficulties and are not able to access online education, thus it is an important step for students thereby avoiding any loss of study
• The smartphones will enable the access to unlimited information available on the web as well as the learning material posted by the department of education.
• This scheme mainly aims at enabling the students to keep a link to studying
• It will enable students to access the online education content and be more digitally advanced irrespective of financial hindrances

Features:

• Students will have access to all the online educational content available on the web
• It has the learning material posted by the department of education.
• The phones have pre-loaded government applications like e-Seva app with e-Content related to academics
• The back of the phones has an engraving of the CM with the words Captain Smart Connect

Key Points:

• Smart Connect Scheme was launched on August 12, 2020 at various places across the state by CMO Punjab, Mr. Amarinder Singh
• Under this scheme, free smart phones are distributed to Class 12 students from government schools to help them access online global web content at one click
• This scheme was mainly launched keeping in mind the pandemic situations all over
• A target of distributing 1,75,443 smartphones to class 12 students is set
• The first phase covered distribution of 50,000 smartphones
• Second batch will be procured now and on December 18, 2020 CM launched the second phase of the scheme
• In this second phase about to students from government school will get smartphones and these students will be provided the remaining 45,443 smartphones thereby
• The total scheme outlay incurred by the government is Rs. 87.84 crores
• The state government kept its promise of distribution of smartphones for free, to all the class 12 students in the state.
• This scheme will digitalise and help the students get closer to technology
• Students can access the online educational content and thereby connect with the global world