KNZ NEWS DESK
October 18, 2017: Honouring the sacrifices which the families of soldiers make in sending their loved ones to serve in the armed forces, the Central government on Wednesday made it easier for the jawans to connect with their families while away from home on official duties.
Telecom Minister Manoj Sinha announced today that the government was making it cheaper for the soldiers to call their families and friends back home via Digital Satellite Phone Terminal.
Describing it as a “Diwali gift from the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology”, Sinha said soldiers who stay away from their families will now be able to talk to them for longer duration without worrying about call charges.
Sinha said beginning October 19, the monthly and per call charges for soldiers will be reduced considerably.
In fact, the monthly charge of Rs 500 for a Digital Satellite Phone Terminal will be completely done away with, the minister added.
The call charges, which are currently Rs 5 per minute, will also come down by 80 percent to just Re 1 from tomorrow, i.e. Diwali day.
“Starting tomorrow, monthly charge of Rs 500 will be completely discarded and soldiers will have to pay Re 1 per call instead of Rs 5. Earlier, soldiers used to pay monthly charge of Rs 500 and Rs 5 per minute as call charges,” Sinha said
