Internet restrictions hit businesses, students in south Kashmir

As the high speed internet services continue to remain blocked in southern Kashmir districts, business community and students say they are bearing the maximum brunt given the peak business and exam seasons are on. 

During the past two weeks, there have been occasions when the internet was completely snapped down but for the rest of the period the speed was throttled down, which makes the net highly inefficient for business or educational purposes. 

   

The authorities had snapped mobile internet service in the region after special police officers (SPOs) started uploading videos on social media announcing their resignations. 

Later, after few days only low speed 2G service was restored in Anantnag, Kulgam, Pulwama and Shopian district.

As this is the peak fruit harvesting season in Kashmir, majority of growers and fruit traders are highly dependent on the internet for fixing the rates with outside businessmen, settling transportation issues and watching markets trends across India as well as outside. 

“These days, we do sell our fruit via internet. Every day I check markets rates of apples in different mandis across the country and then decided about my plan, whether I should sent my consignments or wait. I would also use Whatsapp video calls etc to show my buyers condition of my fruit and decide the rates,” said Manzoor Ahmad, a fruit trader from village Pandushian in Shopian district.  “However, for half of the time we have internet closed and for rest of the time the speed is slashed down that it becomes useless for us,” he said. 

Besides the fruit traders, other businessmen from all the major towns in these districts say they are badly hit. 

“Our PoS machines were rendered defunct due to the gag and the customers suffer,” said RoufQadri owner of Kooks cafe and grill in Anantnag town.

“In times of online banking and digital India, were internet is required for almost everything, how can we remain unaffected by net gags.” 

Many of the shopkeepers in Anantnag and other major towns complained that they couldn’t provide services to customers during these four days. 

Greater Kashmir is flooded with emails from businessmen and students appealing the government to restore high-speed internet services. “We fail to understand, why the high speed internet service is barred though situation in our district is absolutely normal,” asked Shahbaz Ahmad, a BA final year student from Anantnag.

He said that due to the gag their studies have suffered.

“I am preparing judicial service exams. I rely mostly on material available online but due to curbs on internet my preparations have been hindered,” said TabindaRasool a law graduate.

The students complained that with exams nearing their agonies have increased.

“Our exams are beginning in a week’s time and we rely mostly on material available on internet for studies. But despite repeated pleas the government is showing insensitive approach,” said Heeba, a class 12th student.

Many of the job aspirants told that Greater Kashmir spoke to said they couldn’t apply for various vacancies available during two weeks due to internet curbs.

“We now expect the authorities to show some wisdom and not snap internet services for illogical reasons,” said a postgraduate student Hilal Ahmad who is preparing for civil services.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

10 − four =