Mumbai, August 30: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) unit of Maharashtra on Sunday distributed smartphones to tribal kids in Kambacha Pada of Mumbai as they were unable to attend online classrooms during the COVID-19 lockdown.

The party said that while it has distributed 25 smartphones till now, more initiatives will be taken to help other kids. Also Read | NEET And JEE 2020 Update: 17-Year-Old JEE Aspirant Submits Letter to CJI SA Bobde, Seeks Directions to Postpone Entrance Exams in View of COVID-19.

"When we came to know that the kids here are facing problems for their online classes, we decided to reach out to them and distribute smartphones. While 25 smartphones were distributed today, this initiative will further be taken up to help other kids nearby," said BJP leader Sanjay Pandey.

Thanking the state BJP, Tanisha, a class 10 student said, "Due to lock down our schools are shut. We were facing a lot of issues in online studies. These smartphones will help us in our studies." Also Read | Justice Arun Mishra Declines Farewell Invitations by Supreme Court Bar Association And Confederation of Indian Bar Due to COVID-19 Pandemic.

"There are many families who are poor and don't have much income. So they couldn't afford the smartphone for online classes for their kids. We are happy that some students now has smartphones which will help them in studies, " said social activist Vinita Thackrey.

(The above story is verified and authored by ANI staff, ANI is South Asia's leading multimedia news agency with over 100 bureaus in India, South Asia and across the globe. ANI brings the latest news on Politics and Current Affairs in India & around the World, Sports, Health, Fitness, Entertainment, & News. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)