Jammu & Kashmir Apni Party (JKAP) President AltafBukhari on Tuesday urged Union Home Minister Amit Shah to restore high speedmobile internet, as part of preventive measures against the spread ofcoronavirus in Jammu & Kashmir.
In a statement here, Bukhari observed that restoration of 4Gmobile internet services in J&K would enable people especially the studentsto remain engaged inside their homes, thereby effectively containing the globalCOVID-19 pandemic.
Bukhari said that since all the educational institutes areclosed in J&K the students have been left with no option but to remain idlein their homes which has a telling impact on their future.
He said that as COVID-19 spreads at an alarming rate, thepublic health officials have called for minimal public gatherings “whichis pushing many activities online. The issue is particularly severe forschools, where the risk of spreading the disease is high. As many J&Kschools have shifted to online lesson plans, home restricted students arerunning into the limitations of mobile internet services, which leave most ofthem unable to connect to their new online classrooms or download lessonplans,” Bukhari remarked.
He said that since all schools, colleges and universitiesare closed as a result of coronavirus outbreak, millions of students aremissing classes, creating an “unparalleled” education disruption inthe region.
“Earlier our students missed classes due to disruptionscreated by August 5, 2019 decision on Article 370 and now the novel coronavirusoutbreak has posed a serious challenge to our children to cope with theircounterparts in the country who enjoy all other educational facilitiesincluding high speed mobile internet,” Bukhari said, while demandingimmediate restoration of 4G mobile internet services in J&K.
Similarly, he said that the business community and a largesection of the people who are working in the private sector are unable to dotheir businesses.
Bukhari expressed hope that the restoration of high speedmobile internet will go a long way in easing the situation not only for thehome confined students but for the business community and those working in theprivate sector.
“The tourism trade has also taken a big hit in absenceof high speed mobile internet services while businesses including tour andtravel operators, chartered accounts, call centres, fresh start-ups andentrepreneurs have also suffered hugely,” he said, while urging the HomeMinister to order restoration of 4G mobile internet services.