Free mobiles distributed to farmers in Odisha

Every state government is in fray to woo different sections of society through electronic goodies. Latest to jump in the fray is Naveen Patnaik, Chief Minister of Odisha, who recently distributed 5,000 mobile phones to farmers in the name of enabling them to obtain information through call or SMS in their local language regarding their crops.

If the government is to be believed that mobile phones will help farmers to plan farming applications and track market price of various agricultural produce and weather. It is learnt that IIT-Kanpur had designed applications and offered technological support for the mobile phones. In order to obtain the benefits, farmers have to fill up a form to register with the regulated market committees. As of now, the government claims to have almost 66 regulated market committees in the state.

While the distribution of phones is no different than UP and TN governments' free laptop schemes, the amount being spent on the scheme is Rs 2 crore, far less than UP's Rs 2800 crore. Odisha government plans to distribute about 20,000 mobile phones. Although the scheme is a poll gimmick, it is a blessing in disguise for the farmers who are getting phones.