Digital India: Cash Grants For One Crore Bhamashah Beneficiaries In Rajasthan To Buy Net-Enabled Phones

Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje announced that over the next one month, the government plans to give money to people under the Bhamshah Digital Pariwar Yojana to National Food Security Act (NFSA) beneficiaries and those who have Bhamshah cards to buy smartphones. This will be followed by another Rs 500 to recharge them.

"We will give you Rs 500 as a first instalment and then if you buy a phone another Rs 500 to connect with the Internet will be given. If you don't buy a phone you won't get the second instalment," The Tribune quoted Ms Raje saying.

"By going online we will be able to see whether all our beneficiaries have bought phones. They will be able to see and access government schemes at the click of a button," the chief minister said.

Rajasthan is among the first set of states in India that has gone completely online for transfer of social security benefits to the poor by linking them with their Aadhaar numbers. The Bhamshah card for widow pension, MGNREGS, rations and scholarships are among 163 welfare schemes that have been linked to a single-window delivery system.