Several villages in Odisha still have no mobile network, struggling in digital age

Even in this age of advanced technology, some villages in Odisha continue to face significant mobile network issues. Jamjuri village, situated in Belpara block of Bolangir district, tells one such sorry tale.

Residents here struggle to find even a faint signal. While social media usage remains a distant dream, making essential calls or contacting an ambulance during medical emergencies is almost impossible for them.

ALSO READ: Bolangir child sale case cracked; forged birth certificates made to crack deal, 3 arrested

As such, scenes in Bolangir's Jamjuri paint a strange picture. One can see several of its residents sitting atop a tamarind tree since the tree is its only reliable source of connectivity; villagers climb it to get a signal while the rest of the area remains without network coverage.

“I cannot share or receive study notes nor even send important documents like Aadhar card. To talk over the phone, I have to climb up the tree and grab it with one hand while trying to find a signal using the other,” lamented Rakesh Sandha, a Jamjuri student.

Other peculiar sights show teachers sitting under the tree, conducting online tasks and registering Aadhaar and other details for students due to the lack of connectivity elsewhere.

ALSO READ: Bolangir neglected by previous govt, Mahanadi dispute being taken up seriously, says Odisha CM Mohan Majhi

Shockingly, Jamjuri faces such challenges despite being located just 18 kilometers from the Belpara block headquarters.

Without proper mobile networks, students struggle with Aadhaar and other ID registrations, which are important for availing of several Odisha state-sponsored educational benefits. Thereafter, teachers are forced to abandon classrooms to complete online tasks under the tree. Jamjuri locals, thus, often travel nearly 10 kilometers to find reliable network signals.

Interestingly, this situation is not unique to Jamjuri. Nearby villages such as Ghagara, Chikili, Pandakimal, and Kadali are also affected by the lack of mobile network coverage.

Meanwhile, the locals demand urgent action to improve network connectivity and basic infrastructure to alleviate these long-standing issues.

ALSO READ: Odisha students, SHG members turn waste recycling into income

“We need to know what is happening in the country but we cannot as there is no mobile network. We have written to our district collector as well but to no avail,” added local resident Kartik Sahu.