Bhubaneswar: Even after six years of Digital India campaign by the Central Government to provide mobile and internet connectivity to the people, more than 25,000 villages in the country still lack mobile connectivity and Internet.
In Odisha, over 6,000 villages don’t have access to the mobile services.
Based on the Telecom Service Providers (TSP) data, the Ministry of Communications informed the Lok Sabha that Odisha has 6,099 villages without mobile connectivity.
It is the highest number of villages in the country.
Due to the constant efforts by Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, the Central Government has recently approved mobile service to 3933 uncovered villages in the State. Tender process for installation of new mobile towers in 10 aspirational districts of Odisha has begun and the work will start soon, according to reports.
The districts include Balangir, Dhenkanal, Gajapati, Kalahandi, Kandhamal, Koraput, Malkangiri, Nabarangpur, Nuapada and Rayagada.
Besides, 483 Left Wing Extremists (LWE) villages in the State are being included for the mobile services.
Meanwhile, the Electronics & Information Technology Department and Planning & Convergence Department are coordinating with the Central Government to bring mobile services for remaining villages in the State.
Madhya Pradesh has 2,612 villages, Maharashtra has 2,328 and Arunachal Pradesh has 2,223 villages without mobile connectivity, according to the data.
Out of 5,97,618 villages in the country, 25,067 villages lack mobile connectivity and Internet, the Ministry stated.
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