(a) the number of villages in the country including Chhattisgarh which are provided
with public telephone facility as on date;
(b) the time by which this facility is likely to be provided in all the villages
including backward districts of the country;
(c) whether the Government has not been successful in achieving the targets;
(d) if so, the reasons therefor;
(e) whether the Government proposes to formulate a new scheme to provide the said
facility; and
(f) if so, the details thereof?
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
(SHRI MILIND DEORA)
(a): As on 31.07.2013, 5,82,185 villages i.e. 98.07% of the inhabited revenue villages as
per Census 2001 have been covered with Village Public Telephone (VPT) facility, with financial
/ subsidy support from Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF). VPT facility has been provided
in 18,214 out the 19,744 inhabited villages in Chhattisgarh. State-wise details of VPTs provided
are given in Annexure.
(b) VPT facility is expected to be provided in remaining inhabited revenue villages of the
country through on-going USOF scheme of VPTs in newly identified uncovered villages as per
Census 2001, for which rollout period is up to September 2013.
(c) & (d) 98.07% of the inhabited revenue villages as per Census 2001 have already been covered
with VPT facility, with financial/ subsidy support from USOF.
Reasons for delay in provisioning of VPTs in remaining villages, as submitted by BSNL [Bharat
Sanchar Nigam Limited], who is implementing USOF funded scheme for VPTs are:
# Remote & tough terrain
# Lack of proper transport infrastructure
# Poor/no availability of electricity
# Areas affected by insurgency
# Natural calamities
# VPT facility is feasible in many villages only through satellite technology and there
has been delay in procurement of Digital Satellite Phone Terminals (DSPTs).
(e) & (f) Does not arise in view of (b) above.