The Captain Smart Connect scheme launched by Punjab Congress president Captain Amarinder Singh has met with stupendous response from the youth, with more than 11.5 lakh registrations reported in less than five days – the half way mark for closure of the registration process.With another five days to go, the scheme is expected to touch unparalleled levels of success, reaching out to a vast majority of the state’s youth, who have been completely alienated from the mainstream as a result of the Badal’s anti-youth policies, leading to large-scale unemployment and drug problem in Punjab. Captain Amarinder’s team of volunteers has also been going around in various districts to educate the people about the scheme and help them register.Expecting a surge in registrations as the deadline of 6 p.m. on November 30 draws closer, Congress workers, supported by the party’s student and youth wings – NSUI and IYC, as well as IPAC team members, have come out in full force to ensure smooth and streamlined registrations through special desks set up near colleges, coaching centres, market areas, and even ATM queues.
As of releasing this data, more than 84% of the registrations on www.captainsmartconnect.com - the sole platform created exclusively for the purpose, are from men, with the remaining 16% from women. While Ludhiana has taken the lead, with 134,143 registrations in 72 hours, Amritsar and Patiala reported 70,862 and 68,516 registrations in the same period.Youth registering on the website are being provided receipts with unique codes, which will entitle them to receive the 4G enabled smartphone of set specifications – the best in the market at the time of disbursement.Registration on the ground is being facilitated by 250 volunteers across 22 districts, along with 26 PCE buses that are doubling up as mobile registration spots, as part of the landmark initiative by Captain Amarinder Singh, aimed at digitally connecting the youth of Punjab with the world and empowering them by providing them a smartphone with internet facility.Once it comes to power, the Punjab Congress will give away 50 lakh smartphones to youth, with one year of free data and calling. The party will make allocation in the state budget to meet the cost of the scheme.The scheme is applicable to youth who are residents of Punjab and in the age group of 18-35 years. The youth should be 10th pass, with annual household income less than Rs. 6 lakh, in order to be eligible for registration. At 13.5%, Punjab has the highest rate of unemployment in India in the age group of 15-29 years.