Dr Raja Muzaffar Bhat Prime Minister Modi recently asked the stakeholders to join hands for a faster roll out of next generation 5G technology across India. He said new telecom revolution under 5G network would empower millions of Indians. When PM Modi talks about empowerment of all Indians, doesn’t this include people of Jammu & Kashmir as well who are even denied the 4G mobile internet for last almost 1 ½ years. During the inauguration of India Mobile Congress on December 8th which was done through a virtual mode PM Modi said : “We need to work together to ensure a timely roll out of 5G to leapfrog into the future and empower millions of Indians,”. Don’t we also need to get empowered ? On one hand Prime Minister emphasis on every village to be connected through the high-speed optical fibre network, but when we see in J&K , the worst sufferers are the people living in villages who don’t even get the fixed line 4G internet connection. The students from rural areas still manage their online classes or elearning via 2G network and on the other hand 5G network is being rolled on across country. Violation of MHRD guidelines Many private schools in J&K particularly in Srinagar and other towns are violating the guidelines of Govt of India (GoI) on virtual classes as students are made to go through at least 5 sessions daily which extends upto 2 ½ hrs or even 3 hrs. On the other hand the Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) has directed the schools not to hold online classes beyond 1 ½ hrs for younger students. Under the guideline called “Pragyata”, the Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) has recommended that the duration for online classes for pre-primary students should not be for more than 30 minutes. For classes 1 to 8, the HRD Ministry has recommended two online sessions of up to 45 minutes (90 minutes total) while for classes 9 to 12, four sessions of 30-45 minutes duration have been recommended. All these guidelines are not being followed which can cause serious health hazards among students especially the ophthalmic problems among students. The weak network on mobile phones is again adding to the problems of the student community as it causes mental stress among the school going kids and most of these students are from lower income groups who can’t afford to have 4G broadband internet in their homes. Digital Eye Syndrome (DES) The online classes amid COVID 19 pandemic has emerged as a method for current teaching and learning in schools , colleges and universities. Without any specific guidelines, it is now a usual routine for our children to spend most of the time 8-9 per day attending online classes in front of a computer or cellphone screens. These devices cause harm by emitting short high energy waves that can penetrate eyes and can eventually contribute to photochemical damage to the retinal cells, making an individual vulnerable to a variety of eye problems ranging from dry eye to age-related macular degeneration. This is collectively known as digital eye strain (DES) or computer vision syndrome. DES is an emerging public health threat and it is directly proportional to the duration of digital screen exposure. The age group that is the most at-risk is children. The ophthalmologists assume that the diagnosis of DES could get delayed as children may not complain at the earliest like adults. Restore 4G The government needs to restore the 4G mobile internet service in J&K as 90 % of the population have no access to the high speed internet service.On the other hand 4G internet service network is made available by BSNL , airtel or Jiofiber through fixed lines, but everyone can’t afford to have access to this. The ultimate sufferers are the students belonging to lower income groups as there is mostly one smartphone available in their homes and when the father goes for work , the students have no access to online classes even via 2G network. In areas like Charar e Sharief, Shopian, Kulgam, Kangan, Pattan, Kupwara, Chadoora, Gopalpora, Khansahib or areas like Doda , Kishtwar, Reasi or other areas of Jammu or Udhampur districts the Jio-Fiber is not providing service. This is injustice with those people who can afford to have 4G connection through a fixed line but are not able to get the service. If the Govt is allowing Jiofiber to provide service through fixed lines in many areas, what is the problem in not restoring 4G mobile internet ? Conclusion Due to not availability of 4G mobile internet service the students are deprived of elearning and this is clear discrimination with them. Govt is planning to launch 5G internet across India while as a large population in J&K is even deprived of 3G or 4G mobile internet service. Isn’t this a violation of our constitutional rights ? If Govt can allow operation of 4G internet through fixed lines or allowing services of Jiofibre , BSNL or other companies in J&K why can’t mobile 4G internet service be restored ? What is the guarantee that 4G internet service available through fixed lines can’t be misused? How can the state punish the citizens particularly the students from economically weaker sections for none of their fault ? (The author is Chairman of Jammu & Kashmir RTI Movement) feedbackexcelsior@gmail.com
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