Posers raised over efficacy of internet ban policy
Digital divide deprives poorer section access internet: Prof Chinglen Maisnam
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, August 22 2023: With the government yet to lift the ban on mobile internet service even though restriction on broadband service has been conditionally eased, questions are being raised over the efficacy of internet ban in curbing crisis with many advising the government to review its decision while highlighting the negative impact of such prohibition on the society as well as economy.

After the ethnic violence flared up on May 3 from Churachandpur district, the government put a blanket ban on internet service in a bid to check spread of rumour and incitive contents on social media.

It has been 111 days since the people of the state are unable to access internet service.

After different sections of the society raised the demand to lift internet ban and filed petitions, the High Court of Manipur directed the state government on July 25; 83 days after the violence broke out, to resume broadband service through static IP with some precautionary measures.

The state government challenged judgment of the high court in the Supreme Court but the latter turned down the appeal and asked the government to go to the High Court.

Later, on August 10, the High Court issued another order asking the government to explore possibility of providing mobile internet service through whitelisting mobile numbers.

However, any definitive action in this regard is yet to come from the government.

According to Manipur University Economics Department's professor Chinglen Maisnam, the government's decision to lift internet ban for broadband service while continuing the ban on mobile internet service can be seen as a digital divide.

In contemporary world, internet has become an essential part of daily life.

However, the way internet is banned and partial lifted has created a gap among the people, under which poor sections of the society, who could not afford broadband connection are being deprived access to internet, which has become a sort of basic human rights in today's world.

The main reason behind the government's decision to ban internet is to prevent circulation of fake news, information that could hurt sentiments, incite violence and create fear psychosis, which could lead to further escalation of the violence.

However, the question is whether the ban on internet service has been effective in getting the desired results, for which the answer is negative.

Among the sectors affected by the internet ban is education.

In case there was no ban on internet, online classes and online examination could replace conventional classroom education and examination during the height of the violence, which has seriously impacted the sector, he observed.

Professor Chinglen pointed out that the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Communication and Information Technology, in its "Suspension of Telecom Services/Internet and its Impact" Report published on December 1, 2021 stated that the negative impact is far greater than the positive impact of internet ban.

During the assessment period, the report estimated a total loss of Rs 40,000 crore due to ban on internet service for 16,000 hours.

Another report stated that during the total ban on internet in Manipur and Punjab, the country's economy suffered loss of 1.9 billion USD, he said.

Highlighting the negative impact of internet ban and digital divide created by selective restoration of services, the economist expressed that the government should review its decision and lift the ban.

He said that banning internet for long duration impedes economy, development and GDP.

Centrally sponsored schemes including MGNREGS and other flagship schemes are also hit by internet ban either directly or indirectly.

Among the public, it is the poor who suffers the most due to selective restoration of internet service, the professor added.

With the restoration of broadband service through static IP, several families are now subscribing to broadband internet.

Though there is a sudden rise in demand for new connections, many are not happy to shell out a hefty amount to get new static IP connection, especially the poorer section of the society, who could not afford such amount during such tough time when their income opportunities are limited or lost.

Keeping aside the ability to afford broadband connection, the selective restoration of broadband services has rendered the very purpose of banning internet useless and as such the government should rethink of lifting internet service totally, he contended.

Meanwhile, a freelance translator, who also works transcription and subtitling works, told The People's Chronicle that his service requires active internet connection round the clock.

In the last three month of total internet ban in the state, he had turned down several projects cumulatively worth over Rs 1 lakh and it has severely affected his family's financial condition as freelance work is his main source of income.

An employee of a multinational company, who works from home in Imphal, said that he remained idle for about one week when the government banned internet in the first week of May.

As pressure from his company mounted for a time-sensitive project, he had no option left but to head to Guwahati, take a rent and work from there.

He stayed there for about three months and returned to Imphal in the last week of July after the government lifted ban on broadband internet through static IP.

During his three months in Guwahati, he had to spend additionally, which had a negative impact on his financial position, the employee rued.

Like the freelance translator and private company employees, several small entrepreneurs, who do online marketing businesses are also suffering severely due to the internet ban.

Likewise, there are also several stock market traders, who do intraday or swing trade.

Several traders, particularly the swing traders also went to Guwahati or other cities to prevent loss.

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