Daijiworld Media Network - Bhubaneswar
Bhubaneswar, Nov 10: In a major boost to digital education, the Odisha Cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, has approved a Rs 393.62-crore scheme to provide free, secure and high-speed Wi-Fi connectivity to 601 government and aided colleges across the state over the next three years.
The flagship initiative, titled 'Odisha Shikshanet – Empowering Students through a Free Wi-Fi Internet Facility to all Colleges and Universities', will be implemented from the 2026-27 financial year to 2028-29.
The scheme is expected to benefit more than six lakh students and faculty members by improving access to digital learning resources, online academic platforms and educational services. Special emphasis will be placed on students from rural, remote and economically disadvantaged areas who often lack reliable internet connectivity at home.
Chief Secretary Anu Garg said every authenticated student would be entitled to up to 1 GB of free internet data daily within the college campus.
The facility will enable students to access e-books, digital libraries, online lectures, virtual classrooms, research databases, competitive examination materials and various online courses without depending entirely on personal mobile data or paid internet connections.
The expansion builds upon the first phase of Odisha Shikshanet, under which Wi-Fi connectivity has already been provided to 130 colleges. The new initiative will extend the facility to 601 government and aided colleges, significantly increasing the reach of digital education infrastructure across the state.
The project will involve the installation of Wi-Fi infrastructure, bandwidth provisioning, network management, cybersecurity arrangements and operation and maintenance support. A centralised monitoring dashboard will also be established to monitor network performance, service availability, security and utilisation.
Apart from academic resources, the facility will support access to several digital government services, including the Student Academic Management System (SAMS), Higher Education Information Management System (HIMS) and scholarship portals.
This will help students complete admission-related formalities, access academic records, apply for scholarships and avail other higher education services without having to depend on cybercafes or external internet facilities.
One of the principal objectives of the scheme is to bridge the digital divide between urban and rural educational institutions. While students in cities generally have better access to broadband connections, smartphones and computers, those studying in smaller towns and remote areas often face difficulties accessing online educational resources.
The government expects the initiative to strengthen Odisha's digital higher education ecosystem by improving access to technology-enabled learning and academic resources.
The scheme is also aligned with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, the Digital India initiative and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 4 (Quality Education), SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure) and SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities).
Odisha joins several other states that have introduced free internet connectivity initiatives to improve digital access for students.
Bihar, under its Saat Nischay programme, introduced the 'Free Wi-Fi Connectivity in all Universities and Colleges' component of the Aarthik Hal, Yuvaon Ko Bal initiative. The programme provides students with internet access to download study materials and use online educational resources, while promoting digital literacy and improving learning opportunities, particularly in rural areas.
Rajasthan has also introduced free Wi-Fi facilities in government colleges to improve access to digital educational content and encourage students to pursue massive open online courses (MOOCs).
Kerala, meanwhile, operates its K-Fi public Wi-Fi programme across nearly 2,000 public locations, providing internet access to people in different parts of the state. However, it is a broader public connectivity initiative rather than an exclusive higher education scheme.
With an investment of Rs 393.62 crore, Odisha Shikshanet is expected to make digital learning more accessible and affordable while providing students with greater opportunities for academic advancement, research and skill development.