Q.3239 GRAMSAT SCHEME

Will the Minister of SPACE be pleased to state:-

(a) the details of the expenditure incurred under GRAMSAT scheme, especially in tribal districts of Maharashtra during the last three years and the current year, State-wise and Year-wise;

(b) the details of programmes transmitted under this scheme;

(c) whether the Government proposes to involve tribal people in these programmes with a view to promoting tribal culture;

(d) if so, the details thereof; and

(e) if not, the reasons therefor?
ANSWER: MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF PERSONNEL, PG & PENSIONS AND IN THE PRIME MINISTER’S OFFICE (SHRI V. NARAYANASAMY):

(a) The State of Maharashtra is not a part of GRAMSAT programme. The Governments of Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Orissa and Karnataka, which have implemented the GRAMSAT scheme, met the expenditure of their own network. ISRO’s contribution is to provide the necessary satellite bandwidth for these states. The approximate cost of the satellite bandwidth provided to these states together is of the order of `3.0 crore. The objectives of GRAMSAT scheme are currently pursued under Tele-education programme.

(b) The details of the programmes transmitted by each of these states are in the purview of the respective state governments and generally they are in the areas of mass education, fisheries, forest and environment and Anganwadi workers.

(c)&(d) The state governments formulate the programmes to be & (e) transmitted on the network and include programmes to promote tribal culture.

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