(a) the number of villages in the country with a population of less than 100 persons which have been provided telephone
facilities during each of the last three years and the current year particularly in the remote, thickly forested and
naxalite infested areas; and
(b) the number of such villages in the country still deprived of the basic telephone facilities?
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (SHRI JYOTIRADITYA M. SCINDIA)
(a) Universal Service obligation Fund (USOF) entered into an agreement with Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) in
November, 2004 for provision of Village Public Telephones (VPTs) in remaining 66,822 unconnected villages in the country.
This excludes villages having population less than 100, laying in thick forests areas/naxalites effected areas. As on 31st
October, 2008, 55,420 VPTs have been provided by BSNL.
(b) As per Cencus 2001, there are 60, 000 inhabitated villages in the country which are yet to be provided with VPT
facility. These villages are likely to be provided with VPT facility in next two years.