Lok Sabha Question No. 220 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-12-07
Subject: Number of Villages not Connected with Internet
Ministry: COMMUNICATIONS
Asked by: Upendra Singh Rawat, Bholanath (B.P. Saroj)

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 220 TO BE ANSWERED ON 7 TH  DECEMBER, 2022

## NUMBER OF VILLAGES NOT CONNECTED WITH INTERNET

220. SHRI UPENDRA SINGH RAWAT: SHRI BHOLANATH (B.P. SAROJ):

Will the Minister of COMMUNICATIONS be pleased to state:

- (a) the details of the number of villages which are not connected with internet services in the country especially in Uttar Pradesh;
- (b) the  time  by  which  each  and  every  village  in  the  country  is  expected  to  get  internet connectivity;
- (c) the details of the funds allocated/released/utilized and financial assistance given by the Government during the last three years and the current year for the said purpose, State/UT-wise particularly in the State of UP;
- (d) the steps taken by the Government to increase digital literacy in rural areas; and
- (e) the details of the funds allocated and the financial assistance given by the Government during the last three years and the current year to increase digital literacy?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR COMMUNICATIONS (SHRI DEVUSINH CHAUHAN)

(a) to (c) As  per  data  provided  from  Telecom  Service  Providers  (TSPs),  Department  of Telecom field unit and State Government as of March '2022, out of 6,44,131 villages (villages are as  per  data  of  Registrar  General  of  India  as  of  November  2019),  around  6,05,230  number  of villages are having mobile internet connectivity in the country and 38901 villages are not having mobile connectivity. In the State of Uttar Pradesh out of 105531 villages, 1,05,257 number of villages  are  connected  with  mobile  internet  and  274  villages  are  not  having  any  mobile connectivity.  Government  and  Telecom  Service  Providers  (TSPs)  provide  telecommunication connectivity  in  the  country  in  a  phased  manner.  Government  through  funding  from  Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF) is implementing various schemes for providing mobile internet connectivity in all remaining villages of the country. Around Rs 18419.20 Cr. have been disbursed from  USOF  in  last  three  years  and  current  financial  year  up  to  October  2022  in  the  country including the State of Uttar Pradesh.

(d) & (e) To increase the digital literacy in the rural areas , Government of India has approved a scheme titled 'Pradhan Mantri Gramin Digital Saksharta Abhiyan (PMGDISHA)' to usher in digital literacy in rural India by covering 6 crore rural households (one person per household). To ensure equitable geographical reach, each of the 2,50,000 Gram Panchayats across the country are envisaged to register an average of 200-300 candidates. As on 2 nd December 2022, a total of around 6.59 crore candidates have been enrolled and 5.66 crore have been trained, out of which 4.21 crore candidates have been certified under the PMGDISHA Scheme.  During the last three yeas viz. 2019-20 , 2020-21 and 2021-22, an amount of Rs.400 crore, Rs. 250 crore and Rs. 300 crore were released respectively for the PMGDISHA Scheme. During the current financial year i.e. 2022-23, Rs. 250 Crore has been allocated for the said scheme.

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