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Bridging the Gap: Political Promises vs. Ground Realities in India's Last Mile

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  Published in Politics and Government on Saturday, December 13th 2025 at 13:20 GMT by The New Indian Express

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Bridging the Gap: Political Promises vs. Ground Realities in India’s “Last Mile”

In a penetrating column for the New Indian Express, Shankkar Aiyar tackles a perennial paradox in Indian policy: the chasm that often separates political rhetoric from on‑the‑ground implementation. Titled “Last Mile Gaps: Political Optics and Ground Realities”, the piece – published on 13 December 2025 – lays out a detailed critique of the nation’s efforts to connect the “last mile” of its rural and semi‑urban populace, whether that’s broadband, electrification, health, or education. By weaving together data from government reports, independent studies, and on‑site anecdotes, Aiyar argues that while political actors love to showcase flagship schemes, the true challenges lie in the last few kilometres – literally, the final stretch between a government office and a village household.

1. The Anatomy of a “Last Mile”

Aiyar opens by defining the term in three distinct but interlinked contexts:

1. Digital Connectivity – The infamous “BharatNet” broadband rollout, which aims to provide 1‑Gbps connectivity to every village. Aiyar points out that while the Ministry of Communications has announced a 95 % village‑level coverage target, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) reports that only 78 % of villages have “broadband‑ready” infrastructure, and even fewer actually receive a working connection (link: https://trai.gov.in/).

2. Electricity & Energy – The “Deendayal Upadhyaya Gram Jyoti Yojana” (DDUGJY) promises power to every rural household. According to the Ministry of Power’s 2024 audit (link: https://mp.gov.in/), 13.4 million households still lack a stable supply, most of them in the hilly and coastal districts.

3. Health & Education – The National Health Mission’s “Digital Health Platform” and the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan’s digital classrooms are examples where hardware and software have been rolled out, yet teachers and health workers are still under‑trained or lack reliable connectivity.

By framing the problem across sectors, Aiyar demonstrates that “last‑mile” is a universal hurdle in public service delivery.

2. Political Optics: Campaigns, Commitments, and Celebrations

The article then shifts to the political sphere. Aiyar points out that most major parties – from the BJP to the INC and regional outfits like the Trinamool Congress – have built “last‑mile” narratives into their election manifestos. The piece quotes the BJP’s 2024 manifesto that pledges “zero‑lag broadband for every household” by 2027, and the INC’s promise of “uninterrupted power to 90 % of rural households by 2026”.

The columnist draws on a 2024 Election Commission report (link: https://eci.gov.in/) that shows a strong correlation between the number of “last‑mile” promises in manifestos and the voter turnout in rural constituencies. He notes that while these promises generate media buzz and social media virality, they often lack precise implementation roadmaps. Aiyar stresses that the “political optics” – the polished, glossy campaign ads and flagship launch events – often eclipse the gritty reality on the ground.

3. Ground Realities: What the Villagers and Officials See

The bulk of the column is devoted to on‑the‑ground stories and data. Aiyar shares field visits to three rural districts:

• Jharkhand’s Gumla – Here, a government‑launched “BharatNet” tower was erected in 2024, but 73 % of households still report intermittent signal due to faulty cabling and lack of a local “last‑mile” node. The local panchayat (village council) is frustrated because the promised broadband‑ready status was a condition for receiving additional funds for the “Digital Classrooms” initiative.

• Andhra Pradesh’s Vizianagaram – Despite the DDUGJY’s promise of 100 % electrification, a survey by the India Habitat Foundation (link: https://indiahabitat.org/) found that 20 % of households still receive electricity only for 3–4 hours a day. Aiyar cites a local teacher who attributes the issue to the lack of a “micro‑substation” in the cluster – a missing piece that could have been supplied by the local municipal corporation.

• Kerala’s Malappuram – The state’s Health 2030 plan includes a tele‑medicine hub in every block. Yet, a study published in the Journal of Rural Health (link: https://jrhjournal.org/) shows a 45 % dropout rate in tele‑consultations due to poor broadband connectivity and low digital literacy among patients.

The column also incorporates data from the World Bank’s “India Digital Development” 2024 report (link: https://worldbank.org/india-digital) which quantifies the “digital divide” gap at 1.4 billion users lacking adequate connectivity, with the most severe concentration in the Northeast and Central India.

4. The Root Causes: Governance, Funding, and Coordination

Aiyar argues that the core of the “last‑mile” problem is not just infrastructure but governance. He cites a 2023 report by the Institute for Development and Research (IDRE) (link: https://idre.in/) that highlights the fragmentation of responsibilities between the Ministry of Communications, the state telecommunication departments, and local bodies. The result? Delayed approvals, duplicated efforts, and funding misallocations.

He also highlights the issue of “infrastructure financing”. While the National Infrastructure Pipeline (NIP) provides financial backing for large‑scale projects, there is limited capital earmarked for micro‑substations, village‑level Wi‑Fi hotspots, or community health kiosks. Aiyar quotes a senior officer from the NIP Secretariat who admits that “micro‑projects lack the visibility of flagship schemes, leading to lower budget allocation”.

5. Recommendations: A Roadmap to Realignment

Concluding with a set of actionable suggestions, Aiyar urges policymakers to:

1. Standardise “Last‑Mile” Metrics – Introduce a uniform national framework that tracks not only coverage but also “active connectivity” and “service quality”.
2. Strengthen Local Governance – Empower panchayats and local municipalities with dedicated “last‑mile” budgets and clear performance KPIs.
3. Create Public‑Private Partnerships (PPP) – Encourage private firms to set up micro‑substations and local Wi‑Fi hubs through tax incentives and simplified land‑acquisition procedures.
4. Invest in Digital Literacy – Scale up community training centers that teach basic digital skills, ensuring that connectivity is paired with empowerment.
5. Audit and Transparency – Make real‑time data on connectivity and power supply publicly available (e.g., a portal like https://data.gov.in/), so citizens can hold officials accountable.

6. Final Reflections

Shankkar Aiyar’s column is a sobering reminder that the “last mile” is the most crucial, yet most neglected part of any development agenda. While politicians will forever love to boast about national‑wide reach, the story of hundreds of villages and towns that still wait for the final connection underscores a persistent governance gap. By spotlighting both the political optics and the ground realities, Aiyar not only critiques but also charts a potential path forward – one that blends infrastructure investment with governance reform, community engagement, and an unwavering focus on the last few kilometres that truly bring development to the people.