Sanchar Kranti Yojana

Sanchar Kranti Yojana (SKY) is a landmark digital inclusion and social welfare scheme launched by the Government of Chhattisgarh to reduce the digital divide and promote digital literacy across the state. Launched in May 2018, the scheme envisioned the distribution of free smartphones to over 5.5 million beneficiaries, primarily focusing on women heads of households and college students.

Objectives

The core objectives of the scheme were designed to foster a digitally connected society in Chhattisgarh:

• Women Empowerment: Devices were exclusively issued in the name of the female head of the family to promote gender-specific digital literacy.
• Service Delivery: To provide a platform for citizens to access government services via mobile applications like the "Gothan" and "CG-PDS" apps.
• Connectivity: Addressing the lack of mobile penetration in the Bastar division and other tribal belts.

Implementation and distribution

The scheme was executed by the Chhattisgarh Infotech Promotion Society (CHiPS) in collaboration with telecommunication partners.

Phases of distribution

1. Phase I: Distribution to 4.5 million rural women in villages with a population over 1,000 and 500,000 urban BPL women.
2. Phase II: Targeting smaller villages and college students.

Infrastructure support

To ensure the utility of the devices, the government sanctioned the installation of 1,600 additional mobile towers, particularly in the Left Wing Extremism (LWE) affected areas.

Controversies and political impact

The scheme became a focal point during the 2018 Chhattisgarh Legislative Assembly election.

• Allegations of Misuse: Opposition parties alleged that the phones were pre-loaded with ruling party propaganda.
• Quality Concerns: Post-2018, the incoming government led by Bhupesh Baghel ordered an audit into the quality and procurement costs of the handsets.
• Unused Stock: As of 2020, nearly 900,000 handsets were reportedly lying in warehouses due to the halt in distribution.

Impact assessment

Academic studies and surveys by agencies such as IDinsight evaluated the socio-economic impact of the scheme. Key findings included:

• Increased access to digital payment systems in rural markets.
• Rise in the usage of digital education tools among college-going youth in tribal areas.