By: Suhaib Idrees Lateef / Sofi Irfan Altaf.
Earlier Whenever Encounters or synonymous activities like any Law and Order situation emanates in the region, Government was either reducing high speed internet or shutting mobile internet down completely. In August last year, all the communication lines including mobile internet, and Bradaband services was completely barred due to abrogation of Article 370 and 35-A by Government. It was a gap of almost 6 months when the authorities restored the low speed or 2G services in Jammu & Kashmir and since the people here are keeping fingers crossed to the much awaited 4G internet Services.
As we all are in a trauma because of the present most critical situation of the world which has been under the continuous threat of COVID-19 and is battling to it with much effort like lockdown, and curfews. Similar pathetic situation seems in this part of the world, where whole of Jammu and Kashmir has been shut after Kashmir reports its first positive case of Corona virus from Downtown area of Srinagar.
The barring of internet move, as always, was to apparently prevent the spread of rumours and all that incitement to violence regarding abrogation of Article 370 and 35-A by.
However the situation is different and not conducive at all during this critical and crucial juncture in view of shutting high speed internet as whole world has been under the siege of Deadly Corona Virus including the developed Countries like USA, Europe, UK, China ,Italy, South Korea and other major countries besides India and other parts of the world are fighting the Pandemic.
The immediate need of an hour in this part is restoration of high speed internet. People especially the patients and students are battling for the restoration of the service in order to receive their regular treatments and study materials during the lockdown period. In fact, in the modern present era which is also known as digital world, Internet and Social media has became the spine of all the issues weather politics, social, moral or our health related. If we go for reality checkouts and facts, Internet can turn a back bone in making us aware, sharing information through videos or informative lectures regarding the deadly Pandemic. Indeed, Internet can turn a good source for public to awake and to remain conscious about the deadly infection and can even stop the immortal pandemic by encouraging each other to stay indoors.
But, our Administration is taking it as such and facile. Alas!! Isn’t our Administration couching a huge of mass population at stake?
The irony is that, Doctors and paramedics on one side, are assisting patients through internet regarding fatal Corona Virus to keep them updated, in developed countries like Italy and America (with world’s best Medicare facilities) as particular, while as our medical and paramedical staff and the people as part of largest democracy are still missing and misleading it.
The main sufferers are Students as they are highly dependent as continuous internet blockade has made a mark on their studies, particularly during this crucial exigency when they are out of their Schools and other educational institutes.
Its long term effects on teachers and professionals are they have been out of their Educational hubs, when all schools and Educational institutes have been closed in view of this fatal Virus. Where will the students go? What about their studies? What about the research of professionals?
Students, professionals, businessmen and particularly the people suffering from deadly pandemic COVID-19 and other assorted individuals, for whom do you think, internet is not an immediate necessity.
(Authors are student of SSM college of Engineering and Technology and can be mailed at [email protected])