Recently the Union Cabinet has approved Universal Service Obligation Fund/Universal Service Obligation Fund for the provision of 4G based mobile services in untouched villages from aspirational districts of five states- Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Maharashtra and Odisha. USOF) scheme has been approved.
The Aspirational Districts Program of NITI Aayog aims to effectively develop the 112 least developed districts across the country at a rapid pace.
About the plan:
The scheme envisages providing 4G based mobile services in 7,287 villages in 44 aspirational districts of five states. It will be funded by the Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF).
This will promote self-reliance, facilitation of learning, dissemination of information and knowledge, skill up-gradation and development, useful digital connectivity for disaster management, e-governance initiatives, setting up of enterprises and e-commerce facilities etc.
It seeks to achieve the vision of Digital India to promote domestic manufacturing and fulfill the objectives of self-reliant India etc.
Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF):
USOF ensures that people in rural and remote areas have universal non-discriminatory access to quality information and communication technology services at economically reasonable prices.
It was established in the year 2002 by the Ministry of Communications.
It is a non-lapsed fund, i.e., the unspent amount under the target financial year does not lapse and is used for the expenditure of subsequent years.
All credits to this fund require parliamentary approval and have statutory backing under the Indian Telegraph (Amendment) Act, 2003.
Objective:
Economic: Network expansion and promotion of ICT services.
Social: Mainstreaming the underserved and underserved sectors/groups by bridging the access gap.
Political: To enable citizens to exercise their political rights through information.
Constitutional: Equal distribution of benefits of telecom/digital revolution through targeted subsidies and fair allocation of national resources (combined USO levy).
Importance:
Village Public Telephone (VPT), Rural Community Phone (RCP), Rural Household Telephone (RDEL) and mobile infrastructure is set up for rural areas.
With access to affordable telecommunications services in remote and rural areas, it can help prevent urban migration and ensure employment generation in rural areas.
Increasing awareness of ICT services in rural areas and participation of rural people will help in promoting facilities related to health, education etc.
It can ensure the development of Rural Business Process Outsourcing (BPO-Grameen) and Rural Knowledge Process Outsourcing (KPO-Grameen).
Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF) is also considered as the right tool to extend the benefits of government schemes aimed at social development of rural population.
Related Schemes
Bharat Net Project
National Broadband Campaign
Submarine Cable Connectivity Project for Andaman and Nicobar Islands
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