Students Council of North East Institute of Social Sciences and Research (NEISSR) conducted a weeklong online survey in July to assess the extent of internet accessibility across 11 districts in Nagaland when online education became the only means of continuing education in Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) under lockdown.
A press release from Students Council North East Institute of Social Sciences and Research (NEISSR) president Angam Phom and secretary Nyangpong B. Konyak stated that, as the entire formal education came to a grinding halt UGC began to instruct HEIs to continue academic activities including exams through online facilities, where possible. However, initiatives taken up by several HEIs to run online classes met with partial success due to several reasons including low internet penetrations, affordability, accessibility, reliability, and lack of skills, policy issues, and objections by concerned citizens. The release stated that, the survey was designed as part of the Institute’s Extension Activity to create a database on issues of internet access under scope of Digital India, to change the methods of engagement from perception-based threats and intimidations to one that is well-informed and empirically founded democratic and to facilitate, initiate or contribute to advocacy campaigns for quality and equal access to internet services throughout the state as matter of rights and entitlements in specific conditions of lockdown. The survey established that internet access and also associated power supply were serious issues as it was wanting in managing the present crisis and also in the development process of the state in IT enabled world environment.
Within Nagaland, only 29% respondents reported accessing regular internet services across the state. Out of the 11 districts, only two, Kohima, the state capital and Dimapur, the commercial hub, topped the list for best access with only 47% and 48% respondents reporting regular access, respectively. 80% of the respondents were dissatisfied with the quality and/or strength of the internet services. Private parties such as Reliance telecom, Airtel and Vodafone were the major service providers in the state. Performance of the Power supply, which is closely associated service technological environment, was also reportedly regular by only 36% of the respondents.
The survey was designed to collect data from a sample size of 400 (apprx.) respondents across the 11 districts.
An online questionnaire set was widely shared to collect data from as many as can be reached out through large social media networks of current and past students of NEISSR and Eastern Christian College (ECC) and youth bodies throughout the state.