Internet-enabled CSCs for rural areas

New Delhi, Dec 13 (UNI) The Government has approved a scheme for providing support for establishing one lakh broadband internet-enabled Common Service Centres (CSCs) in rural areas of the country, the Lok Sabha was told today.

Minister of State for Communications Dr Shakeel Ahmad said in a written answer that these centres would provide a mix of Government and private services in rural areas at the doorstep of the citizen.

The scheme would be implemented through a Public Private Partnership. The CSC operator would be a private enrterpreneur.

The Service Centre Agency,under whose direction the CSC operator would be responsible for investing in setting up the CSC infrastructure, with the Government providing revenue support for running these centres for four years.

The revenue support to be paid to the SCA would be determined througha bid process.

The scheme has been approved at an estimated cost of Rs 5742 crores over four years, of which the Government is estimated to contribute 856 crores and the state government Rs 793 crores.The balance resource would be mobilised by the private sector.

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