11,734 villages in NE to have telephone connectivity

Imphal, Sep 13 (UNI) Union Ministry of Telecommunication and Information Technology will provide telephone connectivity to about 11,734 villages in the North East.

Officials said here today that there is a tremendous need to upgrade our telecom connectivity, especially in the rural areas.

Under the Bharat Nirman programme, the Centre has ensured that 66,822 revenue villages in the country do not have Village Public Telephone (VPT).

Out of these villages, connectivity in 14,183 remote and far-flung villages would be provided through digital satellite phone terminals.

About 876 villages of Manipur by November 2007 under Bharat Nirman Programme, which was launched by Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh on December 16.

Manipur Information Centre officials said the centre would provide every Indian village with telephone access. Currently, 66,822 villages in the country were without telephone connection.

The Prime Minister has launched Rs 1,74,000 crore 'Bharat Nirman Programme' on December 16 with an aim to build rural infrastructure.

Bharat Nirman, which was a four-year programme, targetted at achieving identified goals in six selected areas of rural infrastructure like irrigation, water supply, housing, roads, telephony and electrification, officials said.

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