Appalled at the continued negligence of telecom service providers in improving network connectivity in the State despite having raised the issue on multiple occasions, thereby wilfully putting the future of student community at stake, Naga Students’ Federation (NSF) has threatened to take up “necessary measures” in the interests of students.
While poor connectivity has adversely affected all sections of people in their day-to-day activities, besides banks, businesses and other establishments that rely on internet connectivity, NSF vice-president and public grievances redressal cell convener Atokiho Sumi and education secretary and public grievances redressal cell co-convener Medovi Rhi in a press release said students and teaching fraternity have been affected the most due to the “sheer negligence and questionable business ethics” of the telecom service providers.
Amid Covid-19 pandemic and introduction of online classes, webinars and teleconferencing as means to adapt to the challenges, they pointed out that poor internet connectivity has brought much hardships and untold miseries upon the general populace as they were being robbed of their paid services.
They said the federation has taken a strong note of the numerous complaints from distraught students, aggrieved parents and concerned citizens alike.
Highlighting the plight of the student community, NSF appealed to the telecom service providers to immediately rectify the problem by providing quality network coverage and uninterrupted internet connectivity in all areas of operation in the State and expedite the process of expanding telecom and high speed data services to rural areas currently not within the ambit of network coverage.
Appreciating the noble initiative of the department of school education (DoSE) of launching online learning programme and online examinations, the federation reiterated its earlier stand that students should not be at the receiving end due to lack of access to technology and other disparities, which could hamper their academic performance and their overall development.