Goa’s IT minister has reportedly announced two major initiatives to boost connectivity and digital access across the state, namely ‘Har Ghar Fiber’ and ‘Common Service Centres’ for last-mile delivery of digital service. The initiative will reportedly ensure high-speed internet connectivity to every household and will be rolled out on a pilot basis first in Porvorim, Sanquelim and Bicholim. This is a step in the right direction. It may be recalled that during the Covid-19 pandemic when schools were closed, students had to go to the hills to get better internet connectivity as they had to follow classes online. Emphasis needs to be laid on internet connectivity in remote villages which is often a challenge due to limited infrastructure and high deployment costs, but solutions like satellite internet, fixed, wireless, and mobile hotspots are available to bridge the digital divide. However the ‘Har Ghar Fiber’ initiative should not go the way of the ‘Har Ghar Jal’ mission wherein while all households have taps installed, either no water flows through the taps, or there is restricted water supply or water flows is a trickle.
