The Hindu : National : Rural telephony, my priority: Raja

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Thursday, May 17, 2007
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Rural telephony, my priority: Raja

Staff Reporter

Will continue with Maran's policies

— Photo: R. V. Moorthy

A. Raja assumes charge as IT Minister in New Delhi on Wednesday.

NEW DELHI : Andimuthu Raja took charge as the new Union Minister for Communications and Information Technology on Wednesday. Talking to the media after assuming office here, Mr. Raja said his priority area would be rural telephony. He would also look into the possibility of implementing "zero roaming charges" a plan his predecessor Dayanidhi Maran wanted to execute on the birthday of DMK president M. Karunanidhi next month. Both Mr. Raja and Mr. Maran are DMK MPs.

"My efforts and endeavour will be to provide communication facilities to the people on the lowest rung of the social order. Since telecom is a growing sector, all efforts required for maintaining its growth will continue," Mr. Raja said.

Mr. Raja said he would continue with the policies and plans of his predecessor. "I will give a final shape to Maran's schemes and policies that are in the pipeline."

He would work to bring more foreign direct investment in both the telecom and IT sectors. Projects that await the Minister's decision include releasing more spectrum to mobile companies from the defence establishment for enhanced services, introduction of the Third Generation policy and an amendment to the Postal Act to rein in courier companies.

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