Dhudike second village in country to have free WiFi

Kulwinder Sandhu

Tribune News Service

Moga, October 8

A week after Eraviperoor, a remote village in Kerala, became the first village in India to have free WiFi facility, the district administration today introduced free internet access through WiFi at Dhudike village, the birth place of freedom fighter Lala Lajpat Rai.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi was expected to inaugurate the free WiFi facility in the village during the 150th birth anniversary celebrations of the freedom fighter on August 25. Dhudike missed an entry in the Guinness Book of World Records as Eraviperoor became the country’s first digital village on September 30.

Dhudike was home to martyrs of the Ghadar movement, including Ishar Singh, Roodh Singh, Pakh Singh and Sham Singh, all of whom are still remembered by the villagers. Punjabi writer Jaswant Singh Kanwal, who has authored many Punjabi novels and short story books, resides in this village.

Sponsored by the Digital India Mission and Punjab National Bank, the facility has enabled the villagers to get free access to the internet.

District Magistrate Parminder Singh Gill, who inaugurated the service, revealed that the network allowed unlimited downloads and access to all websites. The students, in particular, are allowed to access all informative websites.

Chander Khurana, DGM, Punjab National Bank, said Lala Lajpat Rai inaugurated their bank on April 12, 1895. He said the bank, which adopted Dhudike village four years ago, had been carrying out skill development programmes for village youth.