NT NETWORK

Panaji

The free Wi-Fi hotspots set up by the Pilerne-Marra panchayat in the village at ten different locations so as to facilitate students in taking online lessons became functional from Thursday.

The initiative is likely to provide some respite to the village students, who have been facing difficulty in attending their online classes due to connectivity issues.

Local sarpanch Sandeep Bandodkar told ‘The Navhind Times’ that the Pilerne-Marra region is located in a valley and surrounded by hillocks, which made it difficult for the village students to attend online classes.

“Therefore, the village panchayat decided to set up free Wi-Fi hotspots at ten strategic locations in the village, which began functioning from today,” he informed, adding that each hotspot will take care of ten to fifteen students.

Speaking further, Bandodkar said the village panchayat has also provided chairs at these hotspots so that the students can sit comfortably with their electronic gadgets and carry on with their online classes. He also informed that the village panchayat has spent around Rs 80,000 from its funds to set up these Wi-Fi hotspots.

Students from a number of villages around Goa, who are facing problems in their online education due to weak Internet connectivity, could find a solution if their respective village panchayats follow the example of Pilerne-Marra village panchayat.

Incidentally, the government has already directed Internet companies to provide network connectivity in all remote areas of the state on priority basis.

The government has also reduced rent on mobile towers in rural areas to facilitate companies in installing mobile communication towers in remote places, with applications to set up 144 new mobile towers around the state pending with the government.