AP to give 5L smartphones to 'Saadhikara Mitras'

The Andhra Pradesh government is in the process of buying 5 lakh smart phones that will be used by 'Saadhikara Mitras' to create public awareness about its various welfare schemes, officials said today.

'Saadhikara Mitras' are women from self-help groups and each is in charge of 35 households. Their responsibility is to act as a bridge between families under their charge and the government.

Going by the features specified for the mobile handset, the government will spend somewhere between Rs 250 crore and Rs 500 crore for purchasing these phones and the money will be paid in 12 equated monthly instalments to the successful bidder, a top official said.

Besides, the government will also pay at least Rs 30 crore annually towards monthly usage charge of Rs 50 for each connection.

Andhra Pradesh Technology Services (APTS), which functions under the Information Technology Department, has been appointed the bid management agency for procurement and the tender was floated on the state's e-procurement platform. According to the RFP, the chosen contractor will be required to supply 4G smart phones with data SIM cards in a bundle.

The 4G smart phone with Android OS 7.0 or above should have minimum features like an octa core processor, 2GB RAM, 8GB storage, 8 megapixel rear and 5 MP frontal cameras. Such a handset currently costs anywhere between Rs 5000 and Rs 10,000 in the open market.

"We can't exactly disclose the total amount we will be spending since the tender process is on, but a major sum is sure involved," an official overseeing the tender process said.

There were reports that the state's chief secretary had received complaints over the government floating a standalone tender despite having signed a memorandum of understanding with the Union Commerce Ministry's Government e-Marketplace (GeM).

APTS managing director V Premchand, however, insisted it was not mandatory for the state government to make procurement through GeM.

"We have our own e-procurement platform and everything is transparent. A 7-member high-level committee has set the specifications for the mobile handset and nothing is amiss in it," Premchand told PTI.

After two extensions, the bidding process is supposed to end tomorrow.