Thiruvananthapuram: ‘Gift a Smile’, the city corporation’s initiative to source smartphones from citizens to be given to deserving children for their online education, has so far drawn a blank.
As per data with the education department, there are 1,209 such students within the city.
With no one coming forward, the corporation is now planning to appeal to various departments and Technopark-based companies to support the initiative.
“MLAs within the city are also trying to get help,” said Arya Rajendran, Mayor of city corporation.
There are also plans to rope-in leading retail chains in the city to contribute smartphones for the children.
Owing to extended lockdown in the city, business has been dull for the shopkeepers and it has been a key factor in the poor response to the corporation’s Gift a Smile campaign.
Arya Rajendran said that focus needs to be given on children from backward communities.
“We are specially focusing on children from backward communities.
A proper system to ensure contribution from retail chains is being considered.
We are also getting some false requests for help and we are trying our best to ensure that help reaches only the most eligible,” she said.
The corporation is also planning to get special sanction from the state government to utilize own funds for the purchase of smartphones.