In
a major initiative to ensure that the benefits of the ongoing Telecom
Revolution is made available to every citizen of rural India, a
Pilot Project namely the Grameen Sanchar Sewak (GSS) will be launched
by the Prime Minister, Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee at a function here
tomorrow. This Pilot Project has been conceptualised to provide
accessibility of public telephone to the rural population at their
doorsteps by using latest Wireless in Local Loop (WLL) technology.
The scheme will be implemented through the Grameen Dak Sewak (GDS)
Delivery Agents of the Department of Posts (DoP) to be called the
Grameen Sanchar Sewaks. These employees will work as the franchisees
for the Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) in the rural areas.
This initiative of the Government is expected to strengthen the
rural telecom network of the country where currently about 30.3%
of the total telephones in the country are in operation.
In the initial phase,
this pilot project would cover about 8000 villages in 21 Telecom
Circles covering all the States except Andaman & Nicobar,
Haryana and Punjab. This scheme would currently engage the services
of 1800 GDS. Grameen Dak Sewak will carry the wireless based telephone
in his area of operation and make available instant telephone
communication facility to the villagers while delivering their
letters. For this additional service offered by GDS, they will
get a commission of 20% of the value of calls made by the villagers
while (additional) 5% commission will go to the Department of
Posts. Since there are number of small hamlets & villages
in a revenue village, by this method the telecom facility will
be extended to every villager without his having to commute to
the Village Public Telephone (VPT).
For this Pilot Scheme,
the existing rural WLL infrastructure will be used except for
the purchase of FWT (Fixed Wireless Telephone) phone with display
units.Under the scheme, the FWT phone with display facility to
be carried in a bag will be provided to a Grameen Dak Sewak who
will now be called Grameen Sanchar Sewak also or GSS. When the
GSS goes to a house to deliver a letter, he will carry the FWT
phone with him. Since the GSS reaches practically every house,
the scheme will enable the phone service to be made available
practically to all the citizens in his area. The FWT phone is
capable of operating normally within a radius of 5kms from the
WLL tower. The FWT phones have a display screen on which the call
units will be displayed. All the FWT phones shall be provided
with STD/ISD facility. The cost of the Pilot Project is estimated
to be Rs.2.5 crore to Rs.3 crore.
The FWT phone has
been provided by BSNL to the GSS on a very nominal charge of Rs.20/-
per month as Insurance Cover. The GSS must earn a minimum of Rs.20/-
per month as commission for outgoing calls. In case, the GSS fails
to earn the minimum amount, the BSNL shall have the option to
terminate the agreement with GSS. Extension of facility for incoming
calls or for outgoing messages and passing on the same to the
concerned person in the village has been allowed and a charge
of Rs.5/- per message will be levied for conveying any incoming
call/message. This amount shall be retained by the GSS. For easy
calculation of call charges by the GSS, a ready reckoner has been
pasted on the FWT phone itself in local language also. In addition,
the scheme provides an alternate means of livelihood possible
under the relevant provisions of Grameen Dak Sewak (Conduct and
Employment) Rules.
