Can internet be a human right? Internet availability and access has wider social implications that underlines equity, natural justice and more
Posted in: Governance at 14/05/2012 14:40
There cannot be a better environment than in today's India to discuss, advocate and realize key entitlements to its billion-plus people. We already have rights to information and education and the right to food security is expected to follow soon. At a time like this, a desire to step fully into a knowledge society and economy by making Internet access a basic right seems to be no less substantive.
Consider the development and governance priorities of our country. The focus of the Five-Year plans, national target schemes, state-level welfare programmes, all these veer towards achieving key development and citizen service goals in a stipulated period. Right from the community development programme in 1952 to the rural jobs guarantee programme in 2006 that ensures 100 days of work for every poor rural household, to the right to education in 2009, our national priorities are meant to uplift millions from deprivation and fill development divides. While the many successes have meant positive achievements, the pitfalls are notable. Poverty still hamstrings 40% of our people.
To read this Live Mint report in full, see:
www.livemint.com/2012/05/13230204/Can-internet-be-a-human-right.html
