Free Android Smartphones For Registered Farmers In Odisha

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government has decided to provide free Android smartphones to all registered farmers.

“It has been decided that about 2000 registered farmers in each of the 30 districts would be provided smartphones for which an allocation of Rs 3 crore has been made. Besides, a high-powered technical committee has been formed which will decide on the brand of the smartphone to be procured at an affordable price,” Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare minister Surya Narayan Patro told mediapersons here on Friday.

He said the state government had earlier provided Symbian mobile phones to the farmers.

The farmers will get the details about the prevailing market price of their produce on their smartphone. with voice call and SMS facilities. The farmers can text their message in Odia to the digital mandis, the minister said.

Senior Congress leader Naba Das said the announcement was an attempt by the BJD government to woo the farmers ahead the ensuing elections.

“The state government had earlier provided Symbian mobile phones to the farmers with limited-user apps. But it has not reviewed the capability of the farmers in using these phones. It is not certain as to how many farmers will be able to operate these phones which have Android operating software with multiple functions,” he pointed out.