The fate of Vijayanagar, situated on the far eastern end of Arunachal Pradesh, is about to change. Giving important information in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday, Union Telecom Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia said that the Central Government is working on the resolution of providing mobile and internet connectivity to every village in the country.
Issue of poor telecom services raised in Parliament
BJP MP from Arunachal East Tapir Gao had raised the issue of poor telecom services in Vijayanagar in Parliament. He said that the local people living in this area as well as the soldiers of the Indian Army and paramilitary forces deployed there face a lot of difficulties in talking and using the internet.
‘India’s first village’ and its challenges
Recalling the historical importance of Vijaynagar, Jyotiraditya Scindia said that it was settled by Major General Ajit Singh Gurya in 1965 and is considered as ‘India’s first village’. He admitted that this administrative center of Changlang district is currently in the grip of ‘digital darkness’, which hinders online education, banking and essential digital services.
However, Scindia also clarified that there are practical difficulties in laying optical fiber cable (OFC) in the area. Parts of Vijay Nagar fall under Itanagar Wildlife Sanctuary, due to which environmental restrictions are coming in the way of creating infrastructure. He said that this matter is currently under consideration in the Supreme Court, due to which there is a delay in taking the project forward.
Administrative center in ‘digital darkness’
Vijay Nagar serves as an administrative circle, but despite this, people here have been deprived of reliable mobile networks and high-speed internet for years. According to local people and officials, the area is still without stable mobile connectivity and internet. Due to weak connectivity, access to online education, digital banking, government services and other essential online facilities is extremely limited.
Army and local citizens also face problems
MP Tapir Gao also told during the discussion that the Indian Army and paramilitary forces deployed in Vijay Nagar are also facing serious communication problems. He demanded the government to take concrete steps soon.
According to the MP, the state government has provided 4G connectivity to many border villages under the Digital Bharat Nidhi scheme. But extremely remote areas like Vijay Nagar have still not been able to get the full benefits of these initiatives.
The picture will change with ‘Vibrant Village’
Telecom Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia assured that under the Centre’s ‘Vibrant Village Scheme’, emphasis is being laid on improving the standard of living and creating employment opportunities in these border areas. Although the state government is expanding 4G network under the ‘Digital India Fund’, remote areas like Vijayanagar will now be given priority.
