Bhubaneswar: The twenty first century is the century of convergence and Digital Connectivity is the king. Without connectivity there is no use of the various schemes and projects being announced and implemented by the state and Central Governments. The situation becomes grimmer in areas that are physically remote and affected by extremism. Odisha, primarily a state with divergent geographical characteristics, had the largest number villages without mobile connectivity. Though the efforts of the state government have improved road communication to the hinterlands, mobile connectivity problems still exist in some pockets.
Last Wednesday, the Union Cabinet decided to provide 4G mobile connectivity to over 7200 villages of 44 aspirational districts of the country – a majority of which are from Odisha. According to sources, 3,933 of the uncovered villages are from Odisha. While Kandhamal’s 1094 villages are included in the scheme, Rayagada’s 962, Malkangiri’s 306, Gajapati’s 467, Nabarangapur’s 17 and Koraput’s 520 villages are included. All these districts have a majority of tribal population and affected by Left Wing Extremism.
While the decision is a welcome step by the Center, the efforts of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik in this regard cannot be overlooked or underestimated. Naveen has been raising the issue of digital connectivity in the remote areas of the state at various national forums. In the last half decade, Naveen brought to the attention of the Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah and Telecom Ministers regarding Odisha’s concerns on lack of mobile connectivity and how that is hampering the development in those areas.
In August 2019, speaking during the meeting of the Chief Ministers of states affected by LWE, chaired by Home Minister Amit Shah, Naveen demanded for strengthening the telecom networks in the uncovered villages. He even offered to bear a part of the cost for improving telecommunications in those remote villages.
Again, in September 2021, Naveen raised the issue before the Home Minister and said that 6,278 villages in Odisha where there is no mobile access or connectivity. Speaking on the occasion, Naveen said “It is also pertinent that most of the interiors depend on mobile connectivity and mobile internet for banking, education, and delivery of all government services. Today, the basic need, therefore, is of 4G mobile base stations at all places. It is, therefore, required to upgrade the 2G base stations also, erected earlier.” He stressed on the need to improve connectivity in the LWE areas so that the students of these areas can compete equally with others and succeed. It will eventually help the government in delivery of government services, education and banking.
Naveen has been spearheading the cause of rural connectivity and the latest decision is an outcome of that effort. The development of mobile connectivity will definitely help in better deliver of the government schemes thereby improving the lives of the people.