Government of India

Ministry of Communications

Department of Telecommunications

Rajya Sabha

Unstarred Question No. 516

To be answered on 06^th February 2020

Connectivity of Gram Panchayats in Karnataka

516. SHRI RAJEEV CHANDRASEKHAR:

Will the Minister of COMMUNICATIONS be pleased to state:

(a)Whether the Ministry is committed to provide internet access across villages in the country;

(b)If so, the status of implementation to connect all Gram Panchayats to provide high speed internet services in the country;

(c)How many Gram Panchayats have been connected during the last five years and the current year, State/UT-wise including Karnataka;

(d)The funds earmarked/allocated and spent by Government under phase-1 of the said project, State/UT-wise including Karnataka; and

(e)What is the parameter used for a gram to be considered digitally converted?

Answer

Minister of State for Communications, Human Resources Development and

Electronics and Information Technology

(Shri Sanjay Dhotre)

(a)and (b) BharatNet project is being implemented in a phased manner to provide broadband connectivity to all the Gram Panchayats (approx. 2,50,000) in the country.

As on 24.01.2020, by laying 4,08,926 km Optical Fibre Cable, a total of 1,46,717 Gram Panchayats (GPs) have been connected, out of which 1,32,993 GPs have been made Service Ready. In addition, 1255 GPs have been provided connectivity through satellite media.

(c)The State/UT -wise details of the Gram Panchayats, connected during the last five years and the current year in the country including Karnataka, are given in Annex-I.

(d)A lump sum amount is allocated and disbursed from Universal Service Obligation Fund for execution of BharatNet project. The details of State/UT wise funds disbursed by Bharat Broadband Network Limited under BharatNet Project, are given in Annex-II.

(e)As per the information provided by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, with the availability of connectivity, the Digital Village Pilot Project, initiated by them, is facilitating the various digital services including - Tele-Consultation & Veterinary Tele-consultation, Education, Financial Inclusion Awareness Programme, Skill Development, Solar panel powered street lights, including Government to Citizens Services (G2C), Business to Citizen (B2C) Services to the rural citizens.

Annexure referred to in part (c) of the Rajya Sabha Unstarred Question No. 516 for Answer on 06^th February 2020.

State/UT-wise details of BharatNet Progress during the last five years and the current year

Annexure referred to in part (d) of the Rajya Sabha Unstarred Question No. 516 for Answer on 06^th February 2020

Details of funds disbursed under BharatNet Project Ph-I by BBNL

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