The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has been flooded with over six lakh e-mails from across the country supporting the cause of net neutrality. There are debates on social networking websites, news channels, newspapers, colleges and universities on the issue. There is also an increasing awareness on the issue as to make Internet Service Providers (ISP) enable access to all content and applications regardless of the source without favouring or blocking particular products or websites.
The gadget flaunting Generation Y, here in Ranchi however, seem to be absolutely unaware and ill informed about the cause despite the fact that they have been subjected to the idiosyncratic actions of the mobile service providers. They may hold the latest iphone or the newest tab but if one asks their opinion on net neutrality campaign, they seem to be oblivious of the issue.
“What is thisIJ I haven’t come across the term. If you could elaborate I may give my opinion,” said a baffled Siddhrath Gautam, who holds one of the latest android based mobile phones in his group of class XII DPS students. On being explained about the issue Gautam said it hardly mattered to him and his friends until they are getting good speed over the Internet.
Many others like Siddhrath are ignorant of the ISP’s alleged malevolent acts of favouring a particular website. Abhishek Mallick, a Government of India officer, who hails from Ranchi said that the campaign for net-neutrality appeared to be a farce being popularized by the social media. “later on I realized that the campaign was for every Internet user who is ignorant to be trapped by zero plans and false promises. You will see what they want you to see. You will buy what they want you to buy without your knowledge,” Mallick said adding that 90 per cent of people in urban centres of the nation are not aware of the phenomena.
Youths of Jharkhand see the issue even more seriously and feel disheartened with the lack of awareness among the youths on contemporary issues. “A state where the citizens are least concerned and do not raise a question even on the number of CM’s we have had all these years; educating such people about net-neutrality is no less a herculian task. I think 90 per cent of the students do not know what TRAI is. According to a survey Jharkhand ranks amongst the lowest when it comes to raising questions on RTI in the last 5 years. People are highly ignorant about their rights. They sometimes even won’t take the trouble of collecting a rupee returned on their bills, never raise an eye on the 59, 199 price tags on products at big bazaar,” said Niharika Choudhary, an alumnus of ST. Xavier’s College, Ranchi.
“Awareness regarding net neutrality is there in denizens of Ranchi but there is still much to be desired. It is a recent matter of discussion in some circles but it is still not enough. Those who are talking about this issue are very less in comparison to the number of people using internet and internet-based services in Ranchi. People are yet to realise the impact net-neutrality can have in their day-to-day lives. There are some who are responding to the posts and links to websites supporting net neutrality but the number is again very less,” feels Kshitij Kunj a 20-year-old youth.