The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) on Wednesday issued a notice to the Secretary, Education Department, and the Secretary, Ministry of HRD, asking them to submit action taken reports (ATR) in connection with the hardships and miseries being faced by financially poor students living in remote and inaccessible areas in getting education online due to lack of internet.The NHRC issued the notices on a petition filed by human rights activist and lawyer Radhakanta Tripathy.In his petition, Tripathy mentioned that 38 lakh students in Odisha are deprived of teaching due to non-availability of mobile network in their areas.
Students are walking kilometers, climbing water tanks, trees and hills for getting internet connection required for online education during covid-19 pandemic in remote and inaccessible areas, he mentioned, adding that the State Government has also admitted it.He said more than one crore students across India have been deprived of education due to lack of active Government intervention. He requested the NHRC to ensure smart mobile phones to each one of financially poor students and to ensure proper electricity supply and network connectivity for online classes at home during exigencies and digital connectivity throughout the year in the entire country.