It has now been months together that the internet services in Kashmir are suspended. The decision to resume the services partially, taken just sometime back, was thought to ease out the situation for those who are almost entirely dependant on this service. But the way things panned out, it looks like there is many a slip between cup and lip. The speed that is granted to internet in Kashmir makes it almost impossible to do anything worthwhile online. And then there used to be a thing called broadband one doesn’t know where it has disappeared. The reasons for not restoring the services to the degree as was meant by the concerned agencies, or at least was understood by the people here, may be known to the decision makers; on that count one can’t say much. The point here is that some sections of population are suffering too much because of the blockade of internet services. Those in business, especially whose market is in the virtual space, have suffered heavy losses.
At a place where employment avenues are already very restricted, many of our youngsters had started some modest enterprise taking help from internet services. There businesses were either completely, or significantly, dependant on online networking. The months long disruption has almost finished their chances of reviving their businesses. Many of them, if their is some courage left, will have to gather themselves to start a fresh. This, when the services restore. Similarly the students who are at the stage of applying for various competitive tests, or for jobs in the corporate sector, are majorly hit. Today the resource available on internet is a major help in our education. Right now this is unavailable to our students. The exam formalities are completely done online. Here again our students are facing terrible times. Now take the case of applying for jobs, or preparing for competitive exams. Here also the difficulties faced are immense. In this scenario, one can genuinely raise this point that till the time we see some worthwhile resumption of the services, government must ensure that the career of our students is not put to peril.