SANGUEM
Consider walking a distance of over 3 kms into a forested area early in the morning to reach a hilltop in the village, then sitting on a rocky surface on a barren plateau without any shelter and being at the mercy of weather and wildlife, simply to get internet connectivity for online classes.
This is the plight of many students from Bhati village in Sanguem, who have to visit a jungle area as the only available internet connectivity is located in the Netravali Wildlife Sanctuary.
Poor or non-existent internet connectivity has left students from Bhati and other remote parts of Sanguem taluka struggling to pursue online classes.
Among them are students from Netravali and Sulcorna, as well as Kumbhari and Dongor wards of Bhati village, who have been virtually left to fend for themselves with authorities yet to address their grievances.
While students from Netravali have to walk along the road in search of internet connectivity, students from Bhati village also face hardships to gain access to online classes.
According to sources, students from Bhati village are compelled to walk a distance of over 3 kms in a forested area to reach atop a hill in the village to get internet connectivity to attend online classes.
“While doing so, students risk their lives and are at the mercy of nature, weather and wildlife, as the only place where internet connectivity is available is in a jungle area of the Netravali Wildlife Sanctuary,” said a source.
When contacted, Bhati Sarpanch Uday Naik said almost all students in the village have experienced severe problems on account of poor internet connectivity.
“Students have to walk in hilly areas very early in the morning to get internet connectivity and return only in the afternoon after their classes are over. These students then sit on a rocky area on a barren plateau without any shelter and at times, have had to brave the heavy rains while they attend online classes. The situation had been particularly difficult since the last few days due to heavy rains,” informed Naik.
“The issue of poor internet connectivity in the village has been brought to the attention of BSNL authorities several times, but authorities have failed to resolve the issue,” lamented Naik.
Meanwhile, Shiv Sena spokesperson Rakhi Prabhudessai Naik on Friday wrote to Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut, requesting him to take up the issue of internet problems faced by students in remote areas of Sanguem taluka with Union Minister for Communications Ravi Shankar Prasad.
In her letter, Naik stated that that despite repeated efforts by locals and even after having the brought the issue to the notice of former MP South Goa Narendra Savaikar, internet connectivity problems have remained unresolved for many years.
Naik claimed that five of the seven BSNL towers are non-operational in Sanguem taluka and this has left villagers facing extreme hardship in getting internet connectivity.
Responding to Rakhi Prabhudessai Naik’s letter, Raut has assured to look into the matter/
“It’s a very serious issue. I will definitely look into the matter,” stated Raut in his tweet to Rakhi Prabhudessai Naik.
