SHILLONG, March 17: Raising concerns over the continuing suspension of internet services in the Garo Hills region, BJP vice president and MDC from Tura, Bernard N Marak, on Tuesday termed the restriction a serious impediment to citizens’ access to essential services, education and economic activity, urging the State government to restore connectivity at the earliest in the interest of normalcy.
Highlighting the widespread fallout of the shutdown across both urban and rural areas, he said, “Ongoing internet ban in garo hills is suppression to our freedom to access to the world.” He underscored that despite users continuing to pay for services, the absence of connectivity has severely affected daily life. “We are paying for the service the youths the students they rural communities, Urban residents every body is paying for the service but depriving is of this has made life difficult because every thing is online.”
Drawing attention to the education sector, Marak noted that students are among the worst affected by the disruption. “The students cannot excess online classes, submit academic work or apply for exams and Scholarships, disturbing the education,” he said, adding that the digital divide has widened further in the absence of internet access.
He also pointed to the economic repercussions, particularly in urban centres, where businesses dependent on digital transactions have been hit. “Whereas in the Urban areas the residents and the business are facing financial losses due to halted digital transactions, while the rural communities are cut off essential communication, banking and government services,” he said, emphasising that many welfare schemes and official processes are now entirely online.
Reiterating the urgency of the situation, he said, “Because all the schemes are online and has to be uploaded online.” Calling for immediate intervention, Marak added, “Since the customers are paying for this service, the request the government to restore internet at the earliest so that there is normalcy in garo hills.”
