Communications Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad stated today that the government will invest Rs. 20,000 crore for provide mobile services to 55,000 villages. This will be provided through the Universal Service Obligation Fund. We appreciate the announcement of the Minister.
But from past experiences, we do not know whether this will be implemented. Such assurances in the past were dishonoured.
The USOF has got funds accumulated only because the funds due to BSNL were not paid. Even the sactioned amount of Rs. 1250 crore for 2013-14 is yet to be paid.