Will the Minister of COMMUNICATION AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY be pleased to state:-

(a)    whether concession in rentals is granted by BSNL and MTNL to various categories of consumers;

(b)    if so, the details thereof;

(c)    whether it is a fact that the same concession is not available to the consumers who have taken ‘One India’ connection or have switched over to that plan from other schemes;

(d)    if so, the reasons therefore;

(e)    whether both, BSNL and MTNL, propose to extend this concession under ‘One India’ plan also;

(f)     if so, by when a decision to that effect is likely to be taken; and

(g)    if not, the reasons therefor?

ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF COMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
(SHRI DAYANIDHI MARAN)

(a) to (g) A Statement is laid on the Table of the House. 

STATEMENT TO BE LAID ON THE TABLE OF THE RAJYA SABHA IN RESPECT OF PARTS (a) TO (g) OF RAJYA SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 412 FOR 3RD MAY, 2007 REGARDING CONCESSION IN RENTALS UNDER ‘ONE INDIA’ PLAN.

 (a) Yes, Sir.

(b) The details are as follows:-

Sl. No.

Category

Concession in rentals

1.

Freedom fighters, blind persons, gallantry award winners, war widows, disabled soldiers.

50%

2.

Non-residential telephone connections (for not exceeding two connection) in Schools,

Universities and Colleges affiliated thereto, Polytechnics, Non Commercial Research organizations and

other like institutions or organizations recognized by the Government.

25%

3.

# Not exceeding two telephones (non-residential) in Institutions like homes for the aged, infirm, spastics,

handicapped, deaf-dumb- mute persons, orphanages and voluntary organizations for tribal welfare and other like

Institutions or other organizations recognized by the Government.

25%

4.

* Senior Citizens

25%

 * Offered by MTNL only

  #  100% concession is offered by MTNL in Delhi MTNL offers the above concessions under Alternate Tariff Plan-II (Plan 250)

(c) Yes, Sir.

(d) ‘BSNL One India’ Plan is one of the alternative plans offered by BSNL and is allowed only to those customers who are paying fixed monthly charges of

Rs. 180/- per month. However,the call charges itself are less under the ‘One India’ plan as  compared to the General Plan.In case of MTNL, as the rental

under ‘One India’  Plan is already rationalized, further concession is not considered commercially viable.

(e) & (f)   No, Sir. No such proposal is under consideration presently.

(g) The present tariff is already competitive.