A fifth-grade student in a Srinagar school in Kashmir wrote last Monday a letter to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi complaining to him that she could not continue her education remotely after school was closed due to the outbreak of the new Corona virus, because she uses the G-Internet system 2 »Very slow speed, which is not compatible with the remote study system, and urges it to restore high speed internet.

Heba Arjimand Wani, a fifth-grader at Sernagar High School, expressed her position to the Prime Minister saying: “I feel sad, frustrated, angry and nervous, because I could not attend the online lessons that my school organized because of my use of the G2 system, which is not compatible with the classroom system. Online tuition.

She confirmed that she had been away from school as of August 5, and she attended it only for a short time in March, and she said: “I ask you, sir, to return the 4G system, so that we do not miss the lessons online.”

And this message has spread widely across social media in Kashmir. In an interview with the Hindu newspaper, she said that she had to write the letter because the lack of high-speed internet hinders her daily learning via the Internet, which was one of the main options to keep her and her colleagues out of the threat of the Corona virus. "I cannot access online videos," she says in her message. "So I had to ask my mom and her colleagues for help to guide me on certain issues."

Heba's father, Arjimand Hussain Talib, said that only about 10% of the students were able to watch lessons online on Monday. "It was a welcome idea that these children be taught at home over the Internet, with teachers speaking and explaining to them on the board remotely, but we could not log in due to the slow G2 speed," he added.

Meanwhile, Human Rights Watch called on India to remove any restrictions on Internet access in Kashmir. "During this health crisis, access to accurate and timely information is crucial," said Deborah Brown, senior researcher on digital rights and human rights defender. "Internet closures prevent people from accessing basic information and services," she added, stressing that for many children and others seeking education, the Internet is needed to continue learning as schools around the world are closed.

Human Rights Watch named India among four other countries, including Bangladesh, Ethiopia, and Myanmar, as countries that restrict access to the Internet. "These countries should prioritize their responsibilities under the United Nations guidelines on business and human rights, and avoid complicity in human rights violations, especially during the Corona pandemic," Human Rights Watch said.

The Internet has been partially restored in Kashmir at the present time, but high speed internet is only available on fixed lines, while the low bandwidth for mobile communications is «G2», and the Internet service is not available in most prepaid communications.