“Why there was no focus on developing infrastructure that supports online education? Its been 7 months since lockdown initiated, no development so far. “Said Aam Aadmi Spokespeson Surel Tilve
Aam Aadmi Party’s spokesperson Surel Tilve has severely criticised the BJP government for not providing necessary infrastructure that supports online education. Tilve also pointed out some instances like a few incidents of students committing suicide in Goa for not having smartphones to continue their education and many students from rural areas who have to walk at dangerous places for network connectivity for their online classes.
Tilve said that it is very unfortunate that a student in Pal area in Sattari taluka committed suicide because he did not have money to repair his mobile to continue with his online classes for standard 10. There was another incident 2 months back when a student committed suicide for not having access to a smartphone to continue with his education. Tilve questioned the government as to why there was a need to hurriedly push the pattern of online education and why the schools and colleges were asked for carrying out online classes when children and youth in rural areas and remote parts of Goa are not having any kind of access to such technology or smartphones? It has been found that many students in rural areas are so poor that they cannot afford a mobile phone or a smart phone. Then why was there a need to hurriedly continue with online education? Tilve asked.
In a recent news report it was found that around 25 to 30 students from Cumbhari village and Baati village from Sanguem taluka climb the hill top of Netravali forest area and wild life sanctuary region to attend online classes. The students face a lot of risks from the wild animals as tigers, bisons and bears roam freely in the forest area. Even the girls face a lot of risk because they venture in such forest area to attend online classes. These students include high school students, college students of graduation courses as well as engineering students. They have narrated their issues to teachers, who have turned a blind eye to their problems, merely asking them that they will have to take “little trouble” for their education. Due to poor connectivity of internet provider facility of BSNL, students have to venture into 3 kilometers distance into the forest area. They leave from their homes at around 8 am in the morning and return back at around 1 pm in the afternoon. They have explained their problems with the panch members of their respective village panchayats and also their MLA of Sanguem constituency, but all their grievances have gone into vein as nobody has turned up to their help so far, Tilve added.
Surel Tilve said further, “The government can spend a lot of money for reconstruction proposal and work of Raj Bhavan and other official structures for their own ministers and also a lot of money was spent on a fancy car for the CM and other ministers. If so, then why not at least some amount of money be spent to improve infrastructure in the state to provide good facilities for online education? ”
“Government seems to be spending money lavishly on unrequired expenses of the Chief Minister and other cabinet ministers but when it comes spending money to create better infrastructure for good education facilities for youth, an excuse of lack of funds is thrown on the face of the public. What have you done with money accumulated from our taxes? Why is it not being spent for the common public in the state” asked Surel Tilve.
