Odisha Aims for 100% 4G Mobile Network Coverage in All Villages within a Year

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government aims to provide 4G mobile connectivity to all unconnected villages in the state within a year, according to state IT secretary Manoj Kumar Mishra. This initiative is in response to the major problem of the non-availability of telecom networks in the state, which was further highlighted during the Covid-19 pandemic when students in rural areas faced difficulties attending online classes.

Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik has raised this issue at the PM-level and obtained sanction for the establishment of telecom towers. To expedite the tower establishment process, the Odisha Cabinet has decided to provide 2000 sq ft of land free of cost. Reliance Jio has been granted permission to set up 3000 towers in 10 districts, with land already allocated in most places. The state government is actively working to address forest diversion issues that are hindering land allotment in a few remaining locations.

The Odisha State Workflow Automation System (OSWAS) has been extended to all departments in the Secretariat, directorates/HoDs, district collectorates, and the DG and SP offices of Odisha. This has resulted in approximately 15,000 users benefiting from improved decision-making capabilities at various levels of governance. Furthermore, video conferencing facilities have been made available from the state level down to the block level. Optical Fiber Connectivity has been provided to all Gram Panchayats, ensuring a digitally connected population. The government plans to connect all Panchayats through video conferencing, enabling direct communication with all Gram Panchayats simultaneously.

The IT sector in Odisha has witnessed significant growth, with IT exports increasing from Rs 2,317 crores in 2013-14 to Rs 5,500 crores in 2021-22. The IT workforce has also grown from around 9,800 in 2010-11 and 20,000 in 2018-19 to approximately 40,000 in 2022-23. This growth has contributed to the direct transfer of social benefits to beneficiaries’ bank accounts. The amount transferred through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) has increased from Rs 10,881 crores in 2017-18 to Rs 25,878 crores in 2022-23.