‘India lives in villages’. Though the cities are growing continuously, still the majority people are living in the country side. But unfortunately, the villages and rural areas are ignored whether it is development, education, industry or any kind of improvement. Communication services are also not different. Though the private companies hold maximum market share in the telecom services, their contribution, whether in land line or mobiles, are not significant in the remote areas. It is BSNL which connects the lakhs of villages and rural areas. It is the same with the border areas like J&K, Andaman & Nicobar, Lakshadweep, North East states, naxal affected areas etc. The private companies are least interested in providing the services, since there is hardly any profit. BSNL is providing maximum telecom services in these areas with huge losses and risk. Each land line  provided  and maintained will result in significant loss to the company.

BSNL is not providing these connections with profit motive. It is the bounden duty of the government to provide communications in all parts of the country, and as a fully government-owned  company, BSNL has got the responsibility to implement the same. The Post Office is doing the same. While the loss of the India Post, it being a government department,  is borne by the government, in the same way being a fully government owned company, it has got to compensate BSNL by liberal assistance. This has been assured at the time of formation of BSNL, in 2000. BSNL was to be paid Access Deficit Charge (ADC) collected from the private telecom operators so that BSNL, the incumbent operator will be compensated. About Rs. 3,000 to Rs. 4,000 crore was being paid through ADC in the initial stage, but the government discontinued it after a few years. What was the justification for the same? After much persuasion by the Forum as also BSNL, the TRAI proposed Rs. 1500 crore to be paid in 2012-13 and Rs.1,250 in 2013-14 to BSNL from the USO Fund in lieu of ADC.

Even after approval by USOF and clearance by DOT months back, the Rs. 1,500 crore for 2012-13, is still to be paid to BSNL. The Forum approached both Administrator USOF as also DOT for early release of the fund. But both expressed inability to release the amount stating that the fund has been taken back by the Finance Ministry for the time being due to preparation of the budget. Now that the financial  year is over and the budget is presented and approved, there should not be any delay in releasing the Rs.1,500 due to BSNL. BSNL is in dire necessity for funds for procurement of equipment etc. and the release of this amount will be a timely help. The Forum has already demanded the DOT / USOF for early action in the matter. DOT should take immediate action.

In the same way, the amount of Rs.1,250 for 2013-14 also has to be released.