Union Telecom Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia on Wednesday said the Centre is committed to providing mobile and internet connectivity to every village in the country, highlighting the government’s focus on strengthening digital infrastructure in remote and border areas.  

Responding to a question from Arunachal East BJP MP Tapir Gao in the Lok Sabha regarding telecom services in Vijayanagar, Arunachal Pradesh, Scindia said internet connection and mobile connectivity would be provided to every village in the country. Referring to the Vibrant Village Programme, the minister said the initiative aims to integrate border villages with the mainstream and improve socio-economic conditions.  

“The aim of this programme is to create better living conditions and adequate livelihood opportunities for the people of the villages,” Scindia said. 

Vijayanagar, located in Changlang district near the India-Myanmar border, continues to face serious telecom connectivity challenges despite being an administrative centre. The region has often been described by officials and residents as facing “digital darkness” due to the lack of reliable and high-speed mobile network services.

Scindia noted that Vijayanagar holds historical importance, having been established in 1965 by Major General Ajit Singh Guraya and regarded as the First Village of India. He highlighted that the Centre remains committed to strengthening telecom infrastructure in the region to ensure better connectivity for residents. 

However, the minister pointed out that laying Optical Fibre Cable wiring in parts of the area is difficult as certain stretches fall under the Itanagar Wildlife Sanctuary. He said the matter is currently under consideration by the Supreme Court, which has further complicated infrastructure expansion efforts. 

The connectivity gap has had practical implications for residents, who face hurdles in accessing online services, digital education platforms, and banking facilities. Personnel of the Indian Army and paramilitary forces stationed in the region are also impacted by communication constraints. 

While the Arunachal Pradesh government has expanded 4G services in several border villages under the Digital Bharat Nidhi scheme, remote pockets such as Vijayanagar have yet to fully benefit from these initiatives. 

Gao has urged the government to take urgent steps to address the communication challenges in the area, highlighting the strategic and administrative importance of the region.