Context

The Ministry of Tribal Affairs is planning to collaborate with the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) to deploy V-SAT stations on a pilot basis for around 80 tribal villages in Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, and Maharashtra to bring Internet services there.

1: Dimension-e-Governance in India’s remote regions

• In the remotest villages of India, the implementation of e-governance initiatives has emerged as a crucial necessity to bridge the gap between rural communities and government services.
• The collaboration with ISRO will see the government set up V-SAT (very small apperture terminal) stations for these 80 villages that are geographically remote and have difficult terrain, challenges that have kept them out of reach of connectivity for the longest time.
• This pilot project would be monitored so that it could be scaled up to other similar tribal villages in other States as well, adding the goal is also to help with e-governance in these remote areas.

2: Dimension-e-Governance empowering remote villages

• Challenges: With limited access to traditional administrative facilities, such as government offices and banks, remote villages often face challenges in accessing essential services and information.
• Objective: E-governance initiatives aim to address these challenges by leveraging digital technologies to provide efficient and accessible government services directly to the doorsteps of rural citizens.
• Through the establishment of digital infrastructure, including internet connectivity and digital service centers, villagers can now access a range of services such as applying for government schemes, obtaining certificates, and accessing information on entitlements and benefits.
• This transformation has had a significant impact on rural communities, empowering them with greater access to government services, enhancing transparency and accountability in governance, and fostering socio-economic development in the remotest corners of the country.