Samajwadi Smartphone Yojna: Here's how you can get a phone for free, register at www.samajwadisp.in

LUCKNOW: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav has today launched Samajwadi Party smart phone yojana in Lucknow- free distribution of smartphones, a move that replicates Samajwadi Party's experiment of promising free laptops to students ahead of 2012 polls. The Samajwadi Party will be offering smartphones to any Uttar Pradesh resident who is above 18 years, Class 10th passout, and earning less than Rs 6 lakh per year. One can be eligible for the offer by registering online. The distribution of smartphone will start in the second half of 2017 on the basis of first come/registration, first serve basis. The registration will continue for a month. Government employees and their wards however, will not be eligible for this scheme. "Scheme will ensure that every segment of the society enjoys the benefits of the scheme. What a super computer was doing decades back, now a smart phone in your pocket does it," chief minister said. Meanwhile, Dubbing the ambitious smartphone scheme of the UP government as an “eyewash”, BSP supremo Mayawati today asked what people would do with phones when the government was not able to extend security to their religion and life and said the parties making mere promises on election eve will be taught a lesson. “After having failed at all fronts and patroning the corrupt, the Samajwadi Party government is now hoodwinking people in the name of smartphones,” Mayawati said in a statement. In 2012 elections, the Samajwadi Party had secured complete majority and one of its main poll promises was distributing free laptops to students. "The phone will have a detailed app through which all information about the state government using audio-visual and text will be provided to people," the release said, adding beneficiaries will be selected in a totally transparent manner. Assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh are slated to be held early next year. Akhilesh recalled that his government had successfully distributed about 18 lakh free laptops in a transparent manner and similarly, the smart phones to be distributed under the scheme will be of good quality and the process will be corruption-free. (With inputs from PTI)