The Department of Telecom (DoT), launched 5,000 WiFi choupals in partnership with CSC(Common Service Center) which will provide 60,000 WiFi hotspots in rural areas.
- The government is constantly exploring opportunities to utilise the reach of CSCs in rural areas.
- Railway Minister Piyush Goyal, who is also the interim Finance Minister, said that WiFi service is already being made available at the CSC's and along with these, we can connect with core banking. If an extension counter of a bank is opened, then every villager will have a bank near his/her home.
- The Union Minister also said after IRCTC and CSC e-Governance signed an agreement for train ticket bookings: "My dream will come true if you accept the challenge to open extension counters of banks in 2.9 lakh places. If required we can collaborate with renewable and power ministry to set-up small solar units at your places so that electricity becomes free".
- Telecom Secretary Aruna Sundararajan said that the DoT is looking to maintain BharatNet network and the higher education department is looking to deliver its education content in gram panchayats through CSCs.
- Out of 2.9 lakh CSCs, around 40,000 CSCs are already providing the facility of railway ticket booking.
- It must be noted that there will be no limit on number of tickets that can be booked from a CSC.
- Another extraordinary proposal of CSC e-Governance that Mr. Goyal accepted is that of allowing all CSCs to operate as banking correspondents and to disburse 'Mudra Loan' through CSCs.
- The Union Minister also announced that all 2.9 lakh CSC's will be made banking correspondents.
- He said that giving loan is a task of great responsibility and the VLE (village level entrepreneur) will have to be vigilant to check misuse of loan disbursed through him or her.
- Another interesting proposal that the Minister made was: opening of CSC at 8,000 railway stations where they can provide all their services besides telemedicine and education.
- He also said that CSCs should explore the possibility to make sanitary pads at price of Re 1 - Rs 1.25 and create awareness in rural areas about hygiene.
