The New Indian Express ·
Lack of mobile network affects digital connectivity in Sundargarh villages
ROURKELA: Absence of mobile network in some places and inconsistent coverage at several other locations is hurting a sizeable rural population of tribal-dominated Sundargarh district. Incidentally, two most revenue generating mining blocks of Hemgir and Koida are the worst affected in the digital gap.
Sanghumra sarpanch of Hemgir block, Rebati Chhatria, said revenue villages Kiripsira, Khuntijharia and Sarbahal or the Lahandabud hamlet all suffer from lack of mobile network. Only a part of Sarbahal village gets inconsistent network from a nearby tower, said Chhatria.
Villagers said they are deprived of multiple beneficial services like digital banking, agriculture, weather or elephant presence alerts and many OTP-verified services. Absence of mobile network also bars them from getting emergency medical services, while the rural student community remains deprived of online education.
