(a) whether the Government has made any assessment in regard to Public Telecom Scheme and Rural Community Telephone Service in rural areas;
(b) if so, the outcome thereof;
(c) the number of villages in which Public Telephone (BPT) is not available at present in the country; and
(d) the time by which this facility is likely to be made available in all the rural areas?
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (DR. SHAKEEL AHMAD)
(a) No, Sir.
(b) Does not arise in view of (a) above.
(c) & (d) Universal Service Obligation (USO) Fund has entered into an agreement with Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) in November, 2004 for providing Village Public Telephones (VPTs) facility to 66,822 uncovered villages. This excludes villages having population less than 100, lying in thick forest/naxalite infested areas. Out of this, 17,182 VPTs have been provided till 31-12-2005 and remaining VPTs are likely to be provided progressively by November, 2007.