The Telecom Commission has approved a proposal to extend subsidy worth Rs 50 billion for providing about 25 million handsets to users in villages and far-flung areas in the country.
However, it has raised concerns regarding the government?s decision to offer mobile handsets to the beneficiaries of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Programme. Instead, the Telecom Commission has suggested that the government identifies a more inclusive and detailed mechanism for the identification of users who should be provided mobile phones at subsidised prices.
In addition, the Telecom Commission has also expressed its reservations regarding the government?s plan to allot tablets to class XI and XII students of the state and central government schools. It has instead suggested that in the first phase, the scheme should be implemented only for the central schools or for girls? only schools funded by central government. According to the Telecom Commission, such a move would help government clearly focus and identify the user group which requires tablets.
Further, the Telecom Commission has also raised objections over the government?s move to nominate state-run Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited as the sole agency for the implementation of both the schemes.
The Telecom Commission will place its recommendations on the matter before the government for final approval.
