‘Saadhikara Mitras’ to get 5 lakh smart phones in Andhra Pradesh

‘Saadhikara Mitras’ in Andhra Pradash will soon avail the smart phones from the state government for smoothly facilitating the services to the people in the state. The state government is in the process of buying 5 lakh smart phones for ‘Saadhikara Mitras’ to create public awareness of various welfare schemes, officials said on Thursday.

‘Saadhikara Mitras’ are women from Self-Help Groups (SHGs), who are acting as Slum Level Federations leaders and Town Level Federation leaders. Each group is in-charge of 35 households and act as a bridge between the locals and the government.

Each handset will have minimum features like an octa core processor, 2GB RAM, 8GB storage, 8 megapixel rear and 5 MP frontal cameras apart from 4G sim with Android OS 7.0 or above, said officials.

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Going by the features specified for the smart phones, the state government will likely to spend close to between Rs 250 crore and Rs 350 crore for purchasing these handsets.

According to official reports, the amount will be paid in 12 equated monthly instalments to the successful bidder.

“We can’t exactly disclose the total amount we will be spending since the tender process is on, but a major sum is sure involved,” an official overseeing the tender process said.

Besides, the government will also pay at least Rs 30 crore annually towards monthly usage charge of Rs 50 for each connection.

There were reports that the state’s chief secretary had received complaints over the government floating a standalone tender despite having signed a memorandum of understanding with the Union Commerce Ministry’s Government e-Marketplace (GeM).

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APTS managing director V Premchand, however, insisted it was not mandatory for the state government to make procurement through GeM.

“We have our own e-procurement platform and everything is transparent. A 7-member high-level committee has set the specifications for the mobile handset and nothing is amiss in it,” Premchand told PTI.

After two extensions, the bidding process will end on Friday.

(With inputs from agencies)