Will continue to raise H-1B, L1 visa fee hike with US: Prasad

“As far as (issue of) H-1B and L1 visa fee hike is concerned, we have taken it up with the highest level (the US government). Even Prime Minister (Narendra Modi) has spoken to US President, I have also taken it up and we will continue doing so,” the Communications and IT Minister told reporters here.

He was speaking on the sidelines of the annual Heads of Circles Conference organised by the Department of Posts.“I can only say one thing, Indian companies pay tonnes of money in tax to US companies. Our companies are giving good IT value addition to Fortune 500 companies of US. It is a very reciprocal commitment which we are giving,” he said.

Prasad said domestic IT companies are present in 200 cities across 80 countries and that India today occupies 56 per cent of the world outsourcing hub. “It is because of the talent, human resource of Indian IT products and companies including from Hyderabad,” he said.

The minister announced that the Department of Posts will provide 1.30 lakh network-connected hand-held devices to postmen working in rural areas to carry out postal transactions by next year.

“By next year (March 2017) we will be giving hand-held devices to all the postmen in rural areas of the country which they will use to carry out transactions of banking, insurance and mail services.

“On a pilot-basis, 4,000 hand-held devices have been given to postmen in six states to see their functioning,” he said.