The claims of ‘Digital India’ notwithstanding, approximately 700 villages in Uttarakhand alone are devoid of basic mobile telephone connectivity
Thirty km from the sub-district headquarters of Garur in Bageshwar, Uttarakhand, lies the village of Surag. This remote village tucked away in the mountains faces significant challenges due to the lack of cellular network, which has a profound impact on the lives of its residents. Surag is a vast village with houses scattered far apart. While a few houses are situated next to a road, most are located in the interiors and upper reaches, inaccessible by vehicles. The villagers residing in these remote areas suffer the most due to the absence of connectivity.
The unavailability of a network signal makes it extremely difficult for the villagers to access vital information that could enhance their daily lives. Although there are a few spots in the village where a network signal can be caught, these locations are often far away from their homes. Consequently, the residents find it arduous to climb distant hills or travel long distances to access communication networks. These journeys are perilous, and the lack of a proper path makes it even more challenging.
Furthermore, the absence of network connectivity has a significant impact on the villagers' educational pursuits. Mamta, an adolescent girl from Surag, highlights the difficulties of constantly having to climb to the top of a distant hill to access network signals for communication. This lack of connectivity also hampers their ability to search for subject-related information on the internet, leaving them without access to crucial knowledge that could support their studies.
Geeta, another young girl troubled by the lack of information caused by the absence of network coverage, explains, “I am unable to receive timely updates of college and job application deadlines, which mean missed opportunities.”
The absence of network connectivity not only limits access to information but also has far-reaching consequences, particularly for adolescent girls in these villages. Their desire for network access often leads to the scrutiny of their character as they venture into the jungle in search of network signals. Villagers taunt the parents that their daughters go to find the network to speak with their boyfriends. Rumours and judgments about their character start circulating in their villages, making access to the network rather a difficult task. While we advocate for the right to information for every individual, it is daunting to see that girls in these villages face severe backlash when they attempt to assert these same rights.
On the other hand, the absence of network connectivity has become a source of great fear for the villagers, particularly when it comes to medical emergencies at night. Saraswati Devi, a resident of the village, emphasizes the difficulties they face in such situations. Without network coverage, they are unable to contact their neighbors for help. Living amidst dense forests, they are also afraid of encountering wild animals if they venture outside in search of a network signal. This fear restricts their movement during nighttime, exacerbating their concerns during emergencies.
The village head, Kumari Champa, acknowledges that only BSNL and a private company provide network coverage in their village, but even their services are limited to specific locations. The lack of network connectivity has affected the lives of all villagers, particularly adolescent girls. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the absence of network coverage disrupted the education of almost all children in the village, with girls being disproportionately impacted.
There are approximately 700 villages like Surag in Uttarakhand that lack basic phone connectivity. When we talk about a digital India, it is essential to recognize that these villages, which constitute a significant portion of the country, are still devoid of cellular network services.
(The writer is a student of class 12 from Chaurson village in Bageshwar, Uttarakhand)
Charkha Features
