The government has constituted a Committee of Secretaries (CoS) to find a new route for increasing broadband access.
According to a DoT note, Cabinet Secretary K. M. Chandrashekar has directed that a time-bound action plan for ensuring broadband connectivity to all Gram Panchayats in the country be drawn up. He has also suggested that labour-intensive activities of the project could be taken up under the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA) to complement the rural connectivity.
Further, state governments should be engaged through proper linkages with the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojna (PMGSY). The outlay to improve broadband access has been pegged at over Rs 180 billion.
The CoS is believed to be meeting on 28 October to discuss and outline their strategy to achieve its broadband ambitions.
