NewKerala.com

Arunachal's Remote Vijaynagar Seeks Digital Lifeline, Scindia Vows Connectivity

Union Telecom Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia has reaffirmed the Centre's commitment to providing mobile and internet connectivity to every Indian village, including the remote Vijaynagar in Arunachal Pradesh. He cited the Vibrant Village Programme as key to integrating border villages but noted significant challenges due to the area's location within the Itanagar Wildlife Sanctuary. The laying of Optical Fibre Cable is complicated further as the issue is under Supreme Court consideration. Local MP Tapir Gao highlighted that both security forces and residents continue to suffer from a lack of reliable communication services in what is described as "digital darkness."

Key Points: Scindia Assures Telecom Connectivity for Arunachal's Vijaynagar

  • Connectivity pledge for every village
  • Hurdles in wildlife sanctuary
  • Historical First Village of India
  • Supreme Court consideration ongoing
  • Army and locals face "digital darkness"
2 min read

Telecom issues of Arunachal's Vijaynagar raised in LS; Scindia assures connectivity to every village

Telecom Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia addresses connectivity issues in remote Vijaynagar, citing wildlife sanctuary and Supreme Court hurdles.

"The aim of this programme is to create better living conditions and adequate livelihood opportunities for the people of the villages. - Jyotiraditya Scindia"

New Delhi, Feb 11

Union Telecom Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia on Wednesday stated that the Centre is committed to ensuring mobile and internet connectivity reaches every village across India.

Responding to a query raised by Arunachal East BJP MP Tapir Gao regarding telecom services in Vijayanagar in Arunachal Pradesh, Scindia referred to the Union government's Vibrant Village Programme, which, he said, aims to integrate border villages into the national mainstream.

"The aim of this programme is to create better living conditions and adequate livelihood opportunities for the people of the villages," Scindia said while addressing the issue.

He noted that Vijaynagar (also spelt Vijoynagar) holds historical significance as it was established in 1965 by Major General Ajit Singh Guraya and is regarded as the First Village of India.

The minister emphasised that the Centre is committed to strengthening telecom infrastructure in the region to ensure better connectivity for residents.

However, Scindia pointed out that laying Optical Fibre Cable (OFC) wiring in the area remains difficult as parts of the region fall under the Itanagar Wildlife Sanctuary.

He added that the issue is currently under consideration by the Supreme Court, which has further complicated infrastructure expansion efforts.

Vijaynagar, a remote administrative circle located in the Changlang district of Arunachal Pradesh, continues to face significant and long-standing telecom infrastructure challenges.

Despite functioning as an administrative centre, the area continues to grapple with what officials and locals describe as "digital darkness" due to the absence of reliable and high-speed mobile network services.

The valley remains largely disconnected from dependable digital communication networks, creating obstacles in accessing essential online services, digital education platforms and banking facilities.

While the Arunachal Pradesh government has been working to expand 4G connectivity across various parts of the state and has connected several border villages under the Digital Bharat Nidhi scheme, remote regions such as Vijaynagar have struggled to benefit from these initiatives.

During the discussion, MP Tapir Gao also highlighted that personnel of the Indian Army and paramilitary forces stationed in Vijayanagar, along with local residents, continue to face major communication challenges and urged the government to take urgent steps to resolve the issue.

- IANS

Share this article:

Reader Comments

P
Priya S
Finally, some attention on our border villages! Vijaynagar being the 'First Village of India' deserves priority. Hope the minister's assurance translates into action soon. The people there have been living in digital darkness for too long.
R
Rohit P
It's 2025 and we're talking about connecting a village with basic telecom? This is embarrassing. The wildlife sanctuary issue is important, but surely our engineers can find a way. Let's not use it as an excuse for endless delays. The locals and jawans deserve better.
S
Sarah B
Balancing ecological conservation with development is a tough challenge. The Supreme Court's consideration is necessary, but I hope a pragmatic solution is found quickly. Connectivity is a fundamental right in today's world, especially for education and healthcare access.
V
Vikram M
Good to see MP Tapir Gao raising this in Parliament. These remote areas often get forgotten. The government should explore satellite-based internet solutions like other countries do for difficult terrains. Jai Hind!
M
Meera T
As someone from the Northeast, I appreciate the focus. But promises are made every year. We need a clear timeline and budget allocation. How long will the people of Vijaynagar wait? Digital India must include *all* of India.

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

Leave a Comment

Minimum 50 characters 0/50