Mission 2017: Akhilesh Yadav hints at free mobile handset scheme

During 2012-13, his govt chose HP to supply 1.5 mn laptops for free distribution to students, in a scheme costing Rs 2,800 cr

In run up to the 2017 Uttar Pradesh polls, chief minister Akhilesh Yadav here today hinted at including the free mobile handset scheme in the ruling Samajwadi Party (SP) election manifesto.

Before 2012 UP polls, the SP had promised to provide free laptops and tablets to the students passing classes XII and X respectively, among other sops. Another major youth-related promise was unemployment dole.

The free laptop/tablet scheme was largely credited with scripting the stupendous poll success of the SP and attracting first time voters to its kitty. The party had dislodged the then ruling Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) government headed by its president Mayawati to form the next government.

Addressing a function of Vodafone, which started its 4G services in UP East Circle, Yadav mentioned SP had earlier promised to provide free laptops and later fulfilled the promise after coming to power.

He said the party could decide to even include free mobile handsets scheme in its next manifesto considering the growth of telephony in the state and the untapped potential it offered to people in accessing public services over mobile apps.

During 2012-13 fiscal, the Akhilesh government had made budgetary provision of Rs 2,800 crore for the free laptop scheme. After coming to power, the state had floated a global tender and later selected HP to supply 1.5 million laptops for distribution to students passing during the 2011-12 academic session.

There was no financial support to the scheme during the 2013-14 and 2014-15. For the 2015-16 and 2016-17 fiscals, UP had provided budgetary provision of Rs 100 crore for each financial year to give free laptop to 'meritorious' students passing standard X and XII.

However, the free tablet scheme never took off after tech companies expressed inability to supply the devices with the required specifications at the given price.

Meanwhile, the CM said SP was earlier reckoned as the party opposing technology and English, but the free laptop scheme had changed that perception for good.

"In future, UP would emerge as the largest mobile phone handset manufacturing hub, especially in the Noida region, as companies had been coming to the state for investment," he claimed.

He said Lucknow was getting large investments in infrastructure projects, including Lucknow Metro Rail, international cricket stadium, Agra-Lucknow Expressway etc.