Odisha to use V-Sat to augment banking service in Maoist hit

The Odisha government has decided to use solar V-Sat technology to augment banking service in Maoist-hit areas of the state where it has been severely affected due to lack of Internet connectivity, a state minister said Thursday.

V-Sat (Very Small Aperture Terminal) is a satellite communications system that serves home and business users. It offers telecom services such as data transfer, Internet, voice and video. It can be used in areas where conventional media like copper cable, optical fibre cannot be used.

"The government has decided to sanction Rs 2 crore to Odisha Livelihood Mission for installation of 50 solar V-Sat in different locations in the first phase," Finance Minister Niranjan Pujari said at a meeting of the State Level Bankers Committee.

Maoists regularly destroy mobile phone towers, affecting Internet services, so that their movements cannot be reported to the police. Districts like Malakngiri, Koraput, Kalahandi and Rayagada are mainly affected due to this problem, official sources said.

Urging banks to open more branches in rural areas, the finance minister asked them to identify agriculture and education as priority sectors for the overall development of the state.

Pujari also praised the banks for their efforts for bringing normalcy in the banking service in Cyclone Fani hit coastal districts.