Bageshwar Villagers Trek Hills for Network: E-KYC Struggle Exposes Digital Divide

• Villagers in Bageshwar's Ratirketi trek 1.5 km uphill to a 300-meter peak for mobile network to complete mandatory e-KYC for ration cards.
• The lack of network in remote areas forces people, including women and children, to wait for hours in harsh weather conditions.
• Local representative Harish Aithani highlights the need to resolve network issues before digital verification; 90 'shadow zones' identified in the district.
• Food Minister Rekha Arya announced an extension of the e-KYC deadline to December 31, acknowledging technical difficulties in mountainous regions.
• The situation raises questions about the success of Digital India without basic network infrastructure in remote villages.

Why It Matters: Bageshwar's e-KYC struggle highlights the digital divide and urgent need for network in remote areas.