Context

• The COVID-19 pandemic has amplified the influence of technology in our lives which is evident from
  • Buying or selling anything online. 
  • Getting quality access to healthcare, government services and education online. 
  • Payment gateways enable us to make cashless transactions. 
  • Verifications and signatures are digitised. 
  • Communication devices and platforms enable us to stay in touch with one another. 
  • We can teach students, mobilise crowds, conduct conferences or meetings, hold digital political rallies, all within the comfort of our homes. 

Marginalised and isolated

• A substantial section of our population, including the urban poor, the elderly and those in remote areas, find themselves marginalised and isolated because of their inability to navigate the digital space. 
• They find themselves unable to get access to health and welfare alerts, critical services, engage in upskilling or learning, or take part in economic activities without potentially exposing themselves to the virus.
• For example, 
  • Kerala with India’s second highest Internet penetration rate, is attempting to conduct all its classes for this academic year online. 
  • It is a case in point of the digital divide. With the COVID-19 outbreak, thousands of underprivileged students suddenly found themselves left out of all avenues of learning in the most literate State. 

Internet access- human right

• In 2016, the UN General Assembly passed a non-binding resolution that declared Internet access as a human right. However this hasn’t translated to affirmative governmental action. 

Last mile connectivity- Steps taken by Government of India

• In 2011, the Indian government launched the National Optical Fibre Network project for providing broadband connectivity to 2,50,000 Gram Panchayats. 
• In 2015, the programme was renamed Bharat Net and integrated into the Digital India initiative. 
• It included plans for tying up with and subsidising 4G telecom operators for setting up 700,000 Wi-Fi hotspots spread across each of our villages for last mile connectivity. 
• But the rate of Internet penetration still stands at 50%.

Way forward

• Internet connectivity has to be ensured in our remotest areas by accelerating the deployment of additional optical fibres, wireless technology, drones and satellites. 
• Community access points have to be installed in every nook and corner to ensure that even those who lack their own devices can access the digital space. 
• There have to be many more initiatives of distribution of subsidised smart devices along with low cost data plans to lower income groups for us to have a fair chance in bridging our digital divide. Recently the Punjab government has just started distributing 1.75 lakh free smartphones to its students.
• A concrete roadmap for ICT training in various proficiency levels for our diverse population segments is needed.

Conclusion

• Staying connected online has become a necessity for us to survive this pandemic. The post-COVID world will be more digitised than before. 
• Those with the ability to navigate the digital landscape would get more economic opportunities and receive more avenues of social mobility than others. For everyone to access the same economic opportunities, we need to bridge the digital divide
• Therefore it should be our priority to ensure basic digital literacy and Internet connectivity for every Indian.

Reference:

1. https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/bringing-the-internet-to-everyone/article32449761.ece