(a) whether the Government propose to introduce Panchayat Sanchar Sewa Kendras (PSSKs) in order to improve the postal services in rural areas of the country ;
(b) if so, the details thereof ;
(c) the number of PSSKs set up in the country at present, State-wise; and
(d) the number of said PSSKs proposed to be set up in the country during 2001-2002, location-wise?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS (SHRI TAPAN SIKDAR)
(a) Yes Sir,
(b) & (c): The Panchayat Sanchar Sewa Yojana (PSSY) was initially launched in 1995 as a pilot project in five states. In 1996-97, the scheme was extended to five more states. In 1998, the Panchayat Sanchar Sewa Yojana (PSSY) scheme was included in the Plan Scheme of `Expansion of Postal Network` of the Ninth Five Year Plan.. The number of Panchayat Sanchar Sewa Kendras sanctioned so far state-wise is given in Annexure-A.
(d) It is proposed to open 2000 Panchayat Sanchar Sewa Kendras (PSSKs) during the Annual Plan 2001-2002. Within their respective targets, the Heads of Circles finalise the locations based on demand as per norm-based justification and co-operation of the Panchayat concerned.
Annexure-A
S.No. Circles No. of PSSKs opened from 1995 to January 2001 Total 95-96 96-97 97-98+ 98-99 99-2000 2000-2001++ 1 ANDHRA nil nil nil 31 30 32 93 2 ASSAM nil nil nil nil 5 12 17 3 BIHAR nil 31 nil 17 40 165 253 4 DELHI nil 5 GUJARAT 42 15 nil 20 38 27 142 6 HARYANA nil 7 nil nil 10 46 63 7 HIMACHAL 108 nil nil nil 10 32 150 8 J & K nil 9 KARNATAKA 35 nil nil 10 14 1 60 10 KERALA nil 11 M.P. nil 15 nil 55 80 90 240 12 MAHRASHTRA nil 20 nil 10 62 15 107 13 NORTH EAST nil nil nil nil 5 5 14 ORISSA 20 14 1 29 30 5 99 15 PUNJAB nil nil nil 5 20 28 53 16 RAJASTHAN nil 15 nil nil 35 19 69 17 TAMIL NADU nil nil nil 12 30 31 73 18 U.P. 236 91 nil 30 67 152 576 19 W.BENGAL nil nil nil 5 10 15
TOTAL 441 208 1 224 486 655 2015 + No targets allotted ++ up to January 2001