Jammu April 22 (KNS): National Conference Provincial President Devender Singh Rana on Wednesday sought 4G internet to be declared as essential service under the Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA) and called for its restoration in Jammu and Kashmir on immediate basis in the larger interest of people, especially students, professionals besides medical diagnostic cum tele-medication centres.
According to statement issued to KNS Rana said “The necessity of fast-speed internet has assumed significance following the launch of online academics by both, the government and the private educational institutions, as also the professionals engaged in work from home”, Rana said in a statement, adding that the facility is equally important for medical diagnostic centres to ensure dispatch of findings to those having undergone various routine tests. Many of the patients have switched over to Tele-counselling due to restrictions on movement which makes high speed internet all the more important, he added.
The Provincial President said the government might have apprehensions or fears about possible misuse of the internet services but that should not be an excuse to punish the entire population of Jammu and Kashmir. There can always be checks and balances by putting in place a robust mechanism of cyber monitoring to book the violators and tackling them as per law. This, he said, can serve as deterrent for the wrong users and, at the same time, not deny the others access to dependable and fast speed internet.
Rana reminded the administration of various public declarations about imparting education online and motivating professionals to work from home, saying this has to be facilitated by restoring 4G, as the present slow speed 2G is an irritant. He said widespread complaints are being lodged by the stakeholders with regard to denial of the high speed internet and the government should take a call and restore it, sooner the better. He said the 2G internet has become biggest impediment for students, especially younger ones, to keep pace with the online education, as vast chunk of parents cannot afford broadband services. He feared disruption in normal educational activities due to likely restrictions to continue for some time, saying this may require dependable internet services to such of the students as well who are solely dependent on mobile internet, thus ensuring level play field for all. Therefore, the government must revisit its decision and come to the rescue of mobile phone subscribers who have no option but to bank upon 2G services only as of now, he said and termed denial of 4G internet services as a discrimination.
Rana further elaborated that most of the people, especially senior citizens, are required to undergo frequent routine diagnostic testing and they cannot venture out to collect the reports of their tests due to obtaining lockdown, though samples can be collected from homes. In such a scenario, as also scanning of medical reports by the professionals, high speed internet has become imperative, he added.
The Provincial President described provision of 4G internet as social responsibility of the government, saying the people have been wholeheartedly supporting every initiative to combat corona virus and therefore they deserve a better deal, infested of being deprived of the technological advancement like people in rest of the country, the statement said (KNS)