Bhubaneswar: In a major push to strengthen rural digital connectivity, the Panchayati Raj and Drinking Water Department of the Odisha government has directed district collectors to ensure the seamless implementation of the Amended BharatNet Programme.
In an official letter, Surya Narayan Dash, special secretary to the government, instructed collectors to immediately arrange for dedicated space, round-the-clock accessibility, custodianship, and robust security for BharatNet equipment across all gram panchayats (GPs).
This directive follows decisions finalised during a high-level meeting on May 25 chaired by the Additional Chief Secretary of the Electronics & Information Technology Department, and builds upon the Panchayati Raj Department’s previous communication issued on May 30.
Key Directives for BharatNet Implementation
To ensure the project’s long-term success and operational sustainability, the state government has laid down five critical mandates for local administrations:
Free Outdoor Space: In cases where indoor installation of BharatNet equipment within
gram panchayat bhawans is not feasible, panchayats must provide suitable outdoor space within GP premises or nearby government buildings free of cost.
24/7 Unhindered Access: Representatives of Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL), the Project Monitoring Agency (PMA), and the Project Implementing Agency (PIA) must be granted unhindered, round-the-clock (24/7) access to the equipment for urgent operation and maintenance (O&M) activities.
Designated Custodians: The Gram Panchayat representative concerned or official-in-charge will act as the formal custodian of the installed BharatNet equipment.
Asset Record Maintenance: Custodians are strictly required to maintain comprehensive and up-to-date asset registers of all installed BharatNet infrastructure within their respective jurisdictions.
Safety & Disaster Security: Gram Panchayats must ensure the physical safety and protection of the equipment, with a particular emphasis on safeguarding these digital assets during emergencies and natural disasters.
Focus on Accountability and Monitoring
The Special Secretary has urged all collectors to issue immediate instructions to Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) under their jurisdiction to ensure strict adherence to these rules.
To prevent implementation delays, the state government has mandated that compliance be monitored closely at the district level. Collectors have been asked to submit an Action Taken Report (ATR) to the department at the earliest.
The Amended BharatNet Programme is a flagship initiative aimed at bridging the digital divide by delivering high-speed, reliable broadband connectivity to rural Odisha, transforming gram panchayats into digitally enabled governance and service hubs.