Rejecting charges of policy paralysis, Telecom Minister Kapil Sibal on Thursday said the government has taken a slew of decisions in the recent past and delays, if any, were on part of private sector which was responsible for implementation.
“We have taken decisions after decisions. If there is paralysis, it is the roll-out of those decisions and it depends on the private sector. Private sector must see the opportunity and ensure there is roll-out,” he said at the curtain raiser event for India Telecom 2012 Conference.
He said telecom operators need to go above self-interest and look at the larger opportunities awaiting the sector.
“Each telecom operator when he comes to me, his focus is his business, his future.... Let us look at larger picture because there are enough stakeholders who have enormous opportunity to take this sector forward,” Mr. Sibal said.
He added if self-interest continues to be the driving force for private sector players, their interests will be hurt ultimately.
“If your self-interest is your driving force then Newton’s law of motion will apply. Every action will have an equal and opposite reaction. What will happen is your self-interest will be ultimately hurt,” he said.
Mr. Sibal said the government has framed a clear-cut policy for the telecom, IT and communication sectors for the next 10-15 years. He asked private operators to seize those opportunities and work in larger public interest.
“You will miss this opportunity if you look at only your interest and do not allow others to have share in future of telecom sector,” he added.
Communications, IT and electronics sectors are worth $ 80 billion now and the government anticipates that it will be a $ 300 billion industry by 2020.
“Those are opportunities. You need to work in larger public interest to use those opportunity in your self interest,” Mr. Sibal added.
He also said the government will introduce the Electronics Delivery Bill in the next session of Parliament.
“We are in the process of taking Electronics Delivery Bill forward. The standing committee report has come.
Hopefully we will introduce it in Parliament in next session,” he added.
