(a) whether Universal Service Obligation Fund was created by the Government;
(b) if so, the average annual amount being deposited in this fund;
(c) the amount disbursed out of this fund during 2002-03 and 2003-04 separately;
(d) the year-wise number or villages where telephone facility has been provided during the above period by the agencies to which these funds were disbursed; and
(e) the average amount spent per village for setting up of rural telephony?
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (DR. SHAKEEL AHMAD)
(a) Yes, Sir.
(b) Rs 300 crores and Rs 200 crores have been respectively credited to the fund during 2002-2003 and 2003-2004.
(c)&(d) During 2002-2003 and 2003-2004, the entire amounts of Rs 300 crores and Rs 200 crores were disbursed in respect of Village Public Telephones (VPTs) in 5.02 lakh and 5.13 lakh villages respectively.
(e) The average amount spent by a telephone service provider, per village for setting up of rural telephones came to about Rs.54,000 in 2003-2004