Access Denied

Internet isa network that connects hundreds of millions of electronic devices, likecomputers, smart phones, tablets, laptop etc. It has brought advanced changesin communication, technology and in education sector. The term Internet hasbeen coined from a concept OF inter networking that denotes interaction betweennetworking of computers. It is an umbrella under which different networks smalland big freely exchange information across the globe thus it can broadly bedefined as worldwide network of computers, communicating via an agreed uponprotocol. Internet has revolutionised the human kind by opening lot manyopportunities and has brought economic revolution in the lives of people acrossthe global world by improving quality of life. The United Nations recentlyproposed that access to internet services should be a part of human rights.Internet should be accessible to everyone as it ensures freedom to connect andexercise their rights to freedom of expression and opinion and otherfundamental human rights. So far Kashmir, scarcely relishes this right. Thecurrent status can be traced back to August 5 when articles 370 and 35 A werescrapped following which valley was under complete lockdown. The governmentblocked phones and internet with the justification for maintaining law andorder. Most often internet remains shut in the valley and authorities say thatthis is more used by separatists for triggering anti- government agitation,hence emphasis is put more on its ‘adverse’ usage rather on business,education, Research which are pre requisites of development for the vulnerablepart of Country and same has been paralysed by such Policy making strategiestime and again.

After therevocation of special Articles in second half of 2019, internet blockadecontinued for 5 months; later the restoration was limited to certain websites,the list of which was issued by Jammu and Kashmir administration. Denying theinternet access was heavily criticized by Supreme Court, that described it asfundamental right. Following the restoration of communication and 2 G internet,the situation was normalising gradually. However, the outbreak of globalpandemic again put valley in the lockdown, the lockdown not similar to 2019with different causes and consequences, the lockdown is posing new threat tothe valley. Avinash Kumar, executive director of Amnesty International, Indiasaid, “A public health emergency is not an opportunity to bypass accountability.The use of unlawful and arbitrary detention along with limited internetconnectivity and medical facilities only add to panic, fear and anxiety causedby Covid 19”. The students of Kashmir did not attended school since last ninemonths which is unbearable in every sense. Education again has been hit hard byCovid 19 Pandemic in Valley which tends to increase the number of dropouts dueto in accessibility to alternative sources of learning. Educational impact ofsolitary confinement cannot be forgotten as it is detrimental to future. Covid19 has interrupted the education worldwide and UNESCO connected with countriesto ensure continued learning for all children and youth through alternativechannels like distance learning programmes and open educational applicationsand platforms that schools and teachers can use to reach learners remotely andlimit the disruptive of education. India also arranged online classes to imparteducation to their students during closure of schools, while for Kashmir it wasagain a tough challenge to minimize the educational loss during lockdown due tolow speed 2G internet. From Skype to WhatsApp and Zoom app the teachers wereunable to help students through the alternative source of learning; this putsthe students in dark by denying them another fundamental right to educationguaranteed by Indian constitution under article 21A. The Union Territoryadministration responds by saying that low speed internet is to protectSovereignty, Integrity and Security of the country which stands in contrast todemocratic nature of country where State is the means and individual is theend. India – Pakistan rivalry leads India to curb the rights of its owncitizens and blurs its image of largest democracy abroad particularly in humanrights organisations. To contain the security threat India needs to look foralternative measures rather than to make their citizens to suffer.

   

Qurat ul Ain is Research Scholar, Department of Political Science, University of Kashmir

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