Prime Minister Narendra Modi Praises 'SmartGaon' App in Latest Radio Address, But The Developer Also Makes Some Shady Apps

During his latest Mann Ki Baat radio address over the weekend, Prime Minister Narendra Modi cited the example of ii Indian Information technology professionals in the The states who take adult the 'SmartGaon' mobile app that connects villages internally and with the wider world. Adult past United states-based Yogesh Sahu and Rajnish Bajpai, "the app also serves as a ane-stop information centre and a marketplace for farmers", co-ordinate to IANS.

Modi Praises 'SmartGaon'

"The SmartGaon app is not only connecting the villagers with the whole globe but at present they can obtain any information on their own mobile phones. Residents of the village Taudhakpur in Rae Bareilly, the village master, District Magistrate, CDO and every one joined in to create awareness amongst the masses", said the Prime number Minister during his monthly radio accost.

The app has other key features such as a villagers' directory, news and events calendar, health and data center. Also, the app's 'Gram Mart' characteristic has created a pop marketplace for farm produce. "This app is really bringing in a digital revolution in the village", Modi said.

Slew of Permissions

Once installed, the app asks for a whole bunch of permissions, including Device ID, Phone call information, storage storage admission (read/write), USB storage access, Phone status and ID info, and access to all files on the device, including audio, video, photos, documents and more.

Nosotros contacted Smartgaon and My App Center Inc to sympathize why and so many permissions are needed, however, we were informed that the person who could speak on this point is not available. We will update our commodity with the responses from the companies as presently as we get them.

The Developer'southward Other Apps

SmartGaon seems to the latest in a series of apps developed by 'My App Heart Inc'. While many of the apps adult by the company seems to be legit on the face of information technology (similar a support app for Mumbai-based Aurea Aviation), most of them have less than 100 downloads, with many in the single digits.

One of the only exceptions seem to be the gratis SmartGaon app, which had 5000+ downloads at press time, thank you largely, 1 would imagine, to the PM's endorsement.

In fact, some of the new reviews for SmartGaon say the app doesn't work very well. Hither's a sample from the Play Store:

My App Center'due south other apps are disconcerting too; ' Brahmin Business organization' that seems to take been developed on behalf of a organization called the Bramhin Business Community Development (BBCD), which describes itself as "an initiative to encourage & back up the Businesses run past Bramhin (sic) Entrepreneurs". The app has only 1000+ installs, but managed to conjure upwardly a 4.6 rating nonetheless.

Most of the apps (and their descriptions) also seem to be littered with several grammatical errors, which doesn't instill a lot of confidence either. Many of them too seem to follow the same app UI template, which hints at a low-cost development model.

Now that the spotlight is squarely on the new app, it will be interesting to see whether it volition be able to deliver what it promises to, or if will be yet another of those apps like Patanjali's Kimbho that had to be withdrawn from the Play Store following major technical issues and scary security loopholes.

With inputs from IANS