Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited, (BSNL) and the
Department of Posts(DoP) signed here today a Memorandum of Understanding
(MoU) providing for mobile PCOs in rural areas. The Mou was signed
by Shri Prithipal Singh, Chairman-cum-Managing Director (CMD)
on behalf of BSNL and Shri A.S.I.S.Paul, Member(Personnel) on
behalf of the DoP. Under the MoU, a Pilot Scheme is to be implemented
through Grameen Dak Sewak Delivery Agent(GDSDA) of the DoP and
to be called Grameen Sanchar Sewak (GSS) who are willing to work
as franchisees for BSNL in the rural areas. Under this Scheme
telephone facilities will be provided to the villages through
the GSS who shall be visiting door-to-door during his routine
beat in the villages. The GSS will be carrying an integrated Fixed
Wireless Terminal (FWT) with display unit facility in a carry
bag and offer door-to-door telecom facility to villagers. The
FWTs shall be supplied by BSNL. The scheme is being implemented
through out the country except Andaman and Nicobar, Haryana and
Punjab Telecom Circles. In the Pilot Project, around 2000 GSSs
will be selected to extend telephone facilities in around 7500
villages of the country. The Scheme is proposed to be launched
on December 25,2002.
The GSS will be entitled to service charge
of Re.1/- for calls between 100-200 kms. and Rs.2/- for all other
"ISD/STD" calls beyond 200 kms. In addition, the GSS
can charge Rs.5/- for passing on the message to the concerned
persons in the village. For easy calculation of charges to be
paid, a ready reckoner will be used by the GSS. For successful
implementation of the scheme, an agreement in the form of MoU
is being signed with each GSS.
Some of the highlights of the Scheme are
:
- The Pilot scheme has been designed on the basis of existing
PCOs franchisee Scheme of BSNL including its tariff.
- Since the Pilot Scheme is to be implemented through GSS
who also functions as part-time delivery agents attached to
the rural Post Office, DoP shall provide to BSNL a list of
such willing persons currently functioning in identified Branch
Post Offices for the purpose of the Scheme, in order to facilitate
BSNL to make appropriate selection of GSS.
- All equipment for the purpose of the Scheme shall be supplied
directly to the GSS by BSNL.
- The DoP will receive a deposited after 20% deduction the
amount of revenue earned by the GSS on all out-going calls
based on a bill raised by the BSNL on the GSS and remit the
same every fortnight to the BSNL through its network of Post
Offices after deducting 5% to DoP, for the service rendered.
In addition, it shall also receive from the GSS Rs.20/- per
month as insurance premium for the equipment supplied to the
GSS by the BSNL and remit the same to the designated authority.
- The status and terms and conditions of the Scheme under
MoU shall be reviewed after one year to ascertain the benefits
accruing to the rural populace. The MoU shall remain valid
for a period of one year with provision for ex
