Lok Sabha Question No. 2414 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-03-16
Subject: Funds for Infrastructure
Ministry: COMMUNICATIONS
Asked by: Dean Kuriakose, Khagen Murmu

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2414 TO BE ANSWERED ON 16 TH  MARCH, 2022

## FUNDS FOR INFRASTRUCTURE

## 2414.   ADV. DEAN KURIAKOSE: SHRI KHAGEN MURMU:

Will the Minister of COMMUNICATIONS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  has  allocated  any  funds  from  the  Universal  Service  Obligation  Fund (USOF) towards improving infrastructure in any part of the nation;
- (b) if so, the details thereof, State-wise;
- (c) whether the Government has any plans to improve the 4G connectivity of BSNL network in the Idukki parliamentary constituency by utilising funds from the above mentioned USOF;
- (d) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (e) whether the Government concurs with the view that the USOF Fund should be fully utilised with a focus on a transparent technology-neutral financing of broadband infrastructure;
- (f) if so, the steps that have been taken/being taken by the Government in this regard; and
- (g) if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

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

(a) & (b) Yes,  Sir.  Rs.  65,678  crore  has  been  allocated  /disbursed  up  to  February,  2022  from Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF) towards improving telecom infrastructures in the rural and remote areas of the Country. The State/UT-wise details of allocation/ disbursement of funds are given in Annexure-I .

(c) to (d) 4G mobile connectivity is provided by the Government and the Telecom Service Providers (TSPs) in a phased manner in the country.  The Government, with support from USOF, is implementing schemes for providing 4G services in rural and remote areas of the country. However, presently there is no specific USOF Scheme to improve 4G connectivity of Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) network.

(e) to (g) The  Schemes  under  Universal  Service  Obligation  Fund  (USOF)  are  designed  and implemented  transparently  as  per  the  extant  provisions  of  the  Indian  Telegraph  Act,  1885  and  Indian Telegraph Rules, 1951, as amended from time to time.

## Annexure-I

Annexure referred to in Parts (a) & (b) of the Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 2414 to be answered on 16.03.2022

State/UT-wise details of allocation/ disbursement of subsidy from Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF)

| S. No.   | Name of State/ UT                      |   Amount in Rs. of Crore |
|----------|----------------------------------------|--------------------------|
| 1        | Andaman &Nicobar                       |                     1074 |
| 2        | Andhra Pradesh                         |                      876 |
| 3        | Assam                                  |                      507 |
| 4        | Bihar                                  |                      632 |
| 5        | Chhattisgarh                           |                      566 |
| 6        | Gujrat                                 |                      687 |
| 7        | Haryana                                |                      194 |
| 8        | Himachal Pradesh                       |                      283 |
| 9        | Jammu and Kashmir                      |                      100 |
| 10       | Jharkhand                              |                      657 |
| 11       | Karnataka                              |                      687 |
| 12       | Kerala (including Lakshadweep)         |                      663 |
| 13       | Maharashtra                            |                     1456 |
| 14       | Madhya Pradesh                         |                      878 |
| 15       | NE-I *                                 |                      244 |
| 16       | NE-II **                               |                      363 |
| 17       | Odisha                                 |                      630 |
| 18       | Punjab                                 |                      337 |
| 19       | Rajasthan                              |                      813 |
| 20       | Telangana                              |                       74 |
| 21       | Tamil Nadu                             |                      360 |
| 22       | Uttar Pradesh                          |                      954 |
| 23       | Uttarakhand                            |                      162 |
| 24       | West Bengal (including Sikkim)         |                      268 |
| 25       | Centrally Allocated / Disbursed Funds# |                    52213 |
|          | Total                                  |                    65678 |

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