Question : TELEPHONE INSTRUMENTS IN RURAL AREAS



(a) whether a large number of telephones remain out of order due to poor service and supply of inferior quality of telephone instruments;

(b) if so, whether the Government propose to provide good quality of telephone instruments in the rural areas;

(c) if so, the time by which it is likely to be provided; and

(d) the steps taken by the Government to improve telephone facilities in the rural areas ?

Answer given by the minister

THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS (SHRI TAPAN SIKDAR)

a) No, Sir.
b) Sir, good quality of telephone instruments are provided in the rural areas.
c) Does not arise in view of (b) above.
d) Following steps are taken to improve telephone facilities in rural areas:-


(i) Provision of reliable transmission media to all exchanges in a phased manner to improve working of STD/Group dialing.

(ii) Fault Repair Service (FRS) of more and more exchanges are computerized.

(iii) Maintenance free batteries and engine alternators are provided in a phased manner to cope up the long duration of power break downs.