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Consensus reached on VSNL disinvestment: Paswan

Our Bureau

NEW DELHI, Jan. 22

THE Department of Telecommunications (DoT) and the Department of Disinvestment (DoD) have arrived at a consensus on disinvestment of Videsh Sanchar Nigam Ltd (VSNL), the Union Communications Minister, Mr Ram Vilas Paswan said here today.

Speaking to mediapersons after launching the India Post-IDBI Principal joint business initiative, Mr Paswan said his Ministry was not against the disinvestment of VSNL.

"We have arrived at a consensus and we will go by that," Mr Paswan said, declining to comment on the quantum and mode of disinvestment.

The Minister also denied media reports that he was skipping crucial meetings on disinvestment. However, he parried a query as to whether he would attend a proposed Cabinet committee meet on Disinvestment on January 30, which is expected to take up the is sue of VSNL.

Outlining the strategies to give a technology-savvy face to the Postal Department, Mr Paswan said 10,000 `Sanchar Dhabas' that provide Internet and e-mail facilities would be set up across the country.

"Initially, we are setting up `Sanchar Dhabas' in 200 places in the next six months on a trial basis," he said, adding that the existing and extra-departmental staff would be adequately trained to man these centres.

Mr Paswan stated that the Communications Ministry had written to the Planning Commission for the allocation of more funds. "We have also sought permission to commercially utilise land and buildings belonging to the Postal Department," he said.

Earlier, launching the business partnership initiative with IDBI Principal Asset Management, the Minister said the Department of Posts would earn Rs 100 crore annually from this new business which envisages selling the partner's mutual fund schemes throu gh select post offices.

The service would intially be available at 80 post offices in Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkatta and Patna and will be extended to the rest of the country within a year.

Mr Paswan also announced a tie-up with US-based Western Union Financial Services to directly transfer funds from NRIs into the country. "We are expecting a revenue of Rs 100 crore in the third year from now," he said.