Question : Telecommunication System in Tribal Areas

(a) whether any scheme is under consideration of the Government to promote telecommunication system in tribal areas and if so, the details thereof;

(b) whether the Government also proposes any scheme for remote areas of Betul and Khargone Parliamentary Constituencies in Madhya Pradesh and if so, the location-wise details thereof;

(c) the district-wise details of the schemes of the Ministry operating in Madhya Pradesh at present;

(d) the areas of Madhya Pradesh at present where schemes of the Ministry have not reached yet; and

(e) whether these schemes are likely to reach in these areas in future and if so, the details thereof?

MINISTER OF STATE FOR COMMUNICATIONS
(SHRI DEVUSINH CHAUHAN)

(a) Government is implementing various schemes under Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF) to enhance telecom connectivity in the rural and predominately tribal areas of the country including North Eastern Region (NER) and areas affected by Left Wing Extremism (LWE), Border areas, Aspirational Districts and Islands. Further the scope of BharatNet project has been recently extended up to all inhabited villages beyond Gram Panchayats (GPs) in the country.

(b) To (e) As per information from field units of Department of Telecommunications, out of 51929 census inhabited villages of Madhya Pradesh, 50294 villages have mobile coverage. Remaining uncovered villages of Madhya Pradesh (including Betul and Khargone Parliamentary Constituencies ) and the country are being covered by the Government, under USOF scheme, and Telecom Service Providers (TSPs) in a phased manner. Under USOF Aspirational Districts Scheme, 205 villages and under LWE (Left Wing Extremism)-II Scheme, 23 villages are being covered in the state of Madhya Pradesh. (District wise details are attached as Annexure-I).