Context:  

The Union Minister of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj to inaugurate a  pilot project titled ‘Smart Gram Panchayat: Revolution towards Digitization of Gram Panchayat’ 

Smart Gram Panchayat: Govt Launches programme to Digitization of Gram Panchayat in Begusarai District

• The project will be inaugurated at the Paprour Gram Panchayat in Begusarai district in  Bihar to extend PM-WANI (Prime Minister’s Wi-Fi Access Network Interface) Service in Gram Panchayats.
• Begusarai will become the first district where all Gram Panchayats will be equipped with Wi-Fi services under the PM–WANI Scheme 
• The Department of Panchayati Raj, Bihar along with BSNL, will ensure effective execution and operationalization of the project, along with periodic reviews to monitor progress and performance.

Smart Gram Panchayat: Revolution towards Digitization of Gram Panchayat Funding

• The project is funded under the revamped Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Abhiyan (RGSA)
• Nodal ministry: Ministry of Panchayati Raj
• Aim: Extension of  the Prime Minister’s Wi-Fi Access Network Interface (PM-WANI) service to 455 Gram Panchayats across 37 Blocks in the Districts of Begusarai and Rohtas in Bihar for the Financial Year 2023–24.
• Purpose: To achieve the  vision of an inclusive and empowered Grameen Bharat.
• Significance: It will help to bridge  the rural-urban digital divide and foster accountability and efficiency in local self-governance. 

PM-WANI: Prime Minister Wi-Fi Access Network Interface

• Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Communications & Information Technology
• Aim: To enhance the proliferation of public WiFi hotspots to create robust digital communications infrastructure in the country, especially in rural areas.
• PM-WANI Scheme ecosystem: As of 2022,  there are 136 PDO aggregators, 83 app providers, and 132,529 public Wi-Fi hotspots
  • Public Data Office (PDO): It establishes the Wi-Fi Hotspots and provides internet access to users.
  • Public Data Office Aggregator (PDOA):  It provides authorisation and accounting services to PDOs.
  • App Provider: It  displays the available hotspots in the phone’s proximity.
  • Central Registry: It is  overseen by the Centre for Development of Telematics,  maintains details of App Providers, PDOs, and PDOAs.

• Benefits: 

• • Deepening  internet penetration especially in rural areas  which could lead to an increase in income opportunities.
  • It can scale up internet access in rural areas, thereby narrowing the digital divide.
  • Additional source of income by  generating jobs in small- and medium-scale sectors.
  • To provide affordable internet access and help boost digital India.

News Source: PIB