If the India Cellular and Electronics Association (ICEA) is to be believed there are over 2.5 crore Indians without a functional phone. Amidst the lockdown, many are managing without their phones. This is due to the non-availability of components in the supply chain.
The restrictions on the sale of handsets and spare parts continue due to the lockdown is the reason says, ICEA. ICEA further said that 4 crore mobile phone users in the country are expected to be without handsets by May end. This would be due to faults and breakdowns.
Though operations of telecom, internet, broadcast, and IT services have got exemptions in lockdown mobile devices have been kept out of it. Taking this into consideration ICEA and Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) have urged the government to allow the sales and services of mobile phones, laptops, and tablets.
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The Ministry of Electronics and IT has meanwhile passed the recommendation to the Home Ministry. This absence of a mobile phone is also affecting the spread and download of ‘Arogya Setu App‘ said ICEA. “Citizens who want to upgrade from feature phones to smartphones are being deprived of Aarogya Setu. We estimate that this runs into at least 10 million (1 crore) citizens already“, said Pankaj Mohindroo, ICEA Chairman.
