Lok Sabha Question No. 2746 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-01-03
Subject: Internet Services in Rural Areas
Ministry: COMMUNICATIONS
Asked by: RAMSINH PATALYABHAI RATHWA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS

## LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2746 TO BE ANSWERED ON  3 RD  JANUARY, 2018

## INTERNET SERVICES IN RURAL AREAS

## 2746. SHRI RAMSINH RATHWA:

Will the Minister of COMMUNICATIONS be pleased to state:

- (a) the  number of  households  in  rural  areas  which  are  currently  having  access  to internet services;
- (b) the  details  of  the  Government  initiatives  to  increase  availability  of  high  speed internet services in rural areas; and
- (c) the measures taken to ensure digital literacy among students and adults in rural areas along with the current status of such efforts?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE (IC) OF THE MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS & MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS (SHRI MANOJ SINHA)

- (a) As per 'The Indian Telecom Services Performance Indicators' report published by  Telecom  Regulatory  Authority  of  India  (TRAI)  on  28 th December  2017,  there  are 14.62  internet  subscribers  per  100  population  in  rural  areas  in  the  Country  as  on 30 th September 2017.

Further, National Sample Survey Office (NSSO) had conducted survey on 'Social Consumption:  Education'  during  its  71 st round  (January-June,  2014).  Survey  results show that 16.1 per cent of households with at least one member of age 14 years and above  had  access  to  use  internet  facility  in  rural  areas.  There  were  1675.44  lakhs estimated rural households having at least one member of age 14 years and above as per  this  survey.  In  the  75 th round  (July  2017-June  2018)  of  National  Sample  Survey, information on whether household has internet facility has been included and survey is underway.

- (b) Government has planned the BharatNet project to provide 100 Mbps broadband connectivity  to   all  Gram  Panchayats  (approx.  2.5  lakh)  in  the  country  by  using  an optimal  mix  of  underground  fibre,  fibre  over  power  lines,  radio  and  satellite  media. Under first phase of the project, 1 lakh Gram Panchayats (GPs) are to be connected. Under  Phase-II,  to  be  completed  by  March  2019,  connectivity  will  be  provided  to remaining 1.5 lakh GPs.

In addition to above, Government has allocated 965 Megahertz spectrum through auction  in  October  2016  to  various  telecom  service  providers  for  access  services. Telecom  Service  Providers  are  continuously  rolling  out  their  networks  using  this spectrum resulting into the increase in internet connectivity and speed in the country.

(c) The initiatives taken by the Government to promote digital literacy in rural areas throughout the country are as under:

(i) Two  Schemes  entitled  'National  Digital  Literacy  Mission'  (NDLM)  and  'Digital Saksharta  Abhiyan'  (DISHA)  were  implemented  with  a  target  to  train  52.50  lakh candidates (Age Group: 14 - 60 Years) in digital literacy across the country including rural India. Under these two schemes, a total of 53.67 lakh beneficiaries were trained, out of which around 42% candidates were from rural India.

(ii) The 'Pradhan Mantri Gramin Digital Saksharta Abhiyan (PMGDISHA)' approved in February, 2017 aims at ushering in digital literacy in rural India by covering 6 crore rural  households  (one  person  per  household)  by  31.03.2019.  To  ensure  equitable geographical  reach,  each  of  the  2,50,000  Gram  Panchayats  would  be  expected  to register an average of 200-300 candidates.  Digitally literate persons would be able to operate  computers/digital  access  devices  (like  tablets,  smart  phones,  etc.),  send  and receive emails, browse internet, access Government Services, search for information, undertake  cashless  transactions,  etc.  and  hence  use  IT  to  actively  participate  in  the process of nation building. Under this Scheme, so far, more than 1.03 crore candidates have  been  registered,  out  of  which  more  than  1  (one)  crore  candidates  have  been trained and more than 47.69 lakh candidates have been certified under this scheme.

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