Union Minister Jyotiraditya M Scindia announced on Saturday an ambitious plan to achieve 100% telecom connectivity in all Indian villages within the next 12 months. Speaking at a press conference, Scindia, who is the Union Minister for Communications and Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), emphasized the government’s commitment to bridging the connectivity gap in rural areas.
“Prime Minister is committed to 100% saturation. We have identified around 24,000 villages in the country that still need saturation in terms of telecom connection,” Scindia stated. He added that the Cabinet has sanctioned special funds for this initiative, and he personally monitors the progress of work on a weekly basis.
The minister elaborated that a specific scheme has been rolled out to cover these underserved villages, with funds already allocated for the purpose. He highlighted that many of these villages are located in northeastern states, and strategic plans are being developed to extend telecom services to these remote areas.
Under the new telecom Act, provisions have been made to establish the necessary infrastructure. A mix of technologies, including V-sat and satellite, are being employed to ensure complete coverage within the stipulated timeframe. “I have been monitoring the work on a weekly basis, and 13,000-14,000 of these villages have also been covered,” Scindia noted.
Scindia also discussed the financial allocations for the northeastern states in the 2024-25 Union Budget. He claimed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is determined to transform the region into an “engine of growth” for the country.
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“For the past 75 years, North East was treated as an orphan. But Prime Minister Narendra Modi is determined to make the region the engine of growth,” he said. Special funds of about ₹11,000 crore have been earmarked for flood management in Assam and Sikkim. Additionally, 100 new branches of India Post Payments Bank will be established in the region as per the budget provisions.
The minister asserted that various schemes targeting women, farmers, youth, and economically weaker sections in the budget will significantly benefit the northeastern states. The importance given to the region is evident from the increased monetary allocation to the DoNER ministry, the higher devolution of central taxes, and investments in developing connectivity infrastructure.
Scindia mentioned that significant industrial projects would soon enter the region, contingent on the establishment of proper infrastructure. He highlighted the Tata Group’s planned ₹27,000-crore semiconductor unit near Guwahati as a ‘game changer’ for the entire Northeast.
Reflecting on the broader implications of the budget, Scindia remarked, “It is a holistic budget, which will set in a new era for the entire country.”
