Indian Government Mulls Giving Away Mobile Phones To the Poor 104
jalfreize writes "The Indian government is finalizing a $1.2 billion plan to hand out free mobile phones to the poorest Indian families (around six million households, according to some estimates). The Times of India reports: 'Top government managers involved in formulating the scheme want to sell it as a major empowerment initiative... While the move will ensure contact with the beneficiaries of welfare programmes (sic) ..., there is also a view the scheme will provide an opportunity for the (government) to open a direct line of communication with a sizable population that plays an active role in polls.'"
why is it programmes (sic)? (Score:5, Insightful)
No electricity... (Score:3, Insightful)
Most likely someone is getting paid (Score:3, Insightful)
like similar programs in the US, some politician is setting themselves up to get something back. Where in the US it is in the form of campaign contributions given the graft and out right corruption in India I would not doubt there is a whole chain of companies and politicians just giddy with this proposal.
Far too many programs which help the poor merely use their backs and nothing is really done to not keep them poor
Re:They are creating jobs (Score:4, Insightful)
Someone will have to manufacture the six million phones, batteries, sim cards and power adapters.....
How thoughtful of India to create all those jobs for Chinese children.