Internet Ban in Sambalpur: Students and Businesses Suffer

Sambalpur, a city in the Indian state of Odisha, is still grappling with the aftermath of communal violence that erupted during Hanuman Jayanti celebrations. Although the situation is gradually returning to normalcy, the government has imposed a ban on internet services to prevent further communal tensions.

The internet outage has had a severe impact on students who rely on online classes to continue their studies. With the ban in place, students have been forced to travel to border districts to access the internet, causing significant disruption to their education. Many students who previously depended on YouTube and other sites for their lessons are now struggling to keep up with their coursework.

Tapan Kumar, a B. Tech student who is also preparing for competitive exams, is one of the many students affected by the ban. "The internet has been suspended for the last week, and now I have to miss my online classes on Zoom," he said. "With no other option, I have to walk to the Sambalpur-Angul border just for internet."

Other students, such as Gopabandhu, have also been forced to travel to border districts to access the internet. "All the students who depended on the internet for their preparation and studies are now going through unwanted problems and are missing out on their lessons," he said. "We all have come here to Boudh border just for the internet. Students are all sitting in open fields and highways for their online classes."

In addition to students, many businesses that rely on the internet are also struggling due to the ban. The internet blackout has caused significant disruption to their operations, leaving them unable to communicate with customers or conduct online transactions.

As the ban on internet services continues, students and businesses in Sambalpur are growing increasingly frustrated. They are calling on the government to lift the ban as soon as possible so that they can resume their normal activities.

In conclusion, the ban on internet services in Sambalpur has had a severe impact on students and businesses in the area. While the government has imposed the ban to prevent communal tensions, it has caused significant disruption to people's lives. Students who rely on online classes to continue their studies are struggling to keep up with their coursework, while businesses that depend on the internet are unable to operate as usual. It is essential for the government to find a way to lift the ban as soon as possible to minimize the damage to the community.

Author : Shyamal Mitra

Source : https://odishatv.in/news/odisha/life-without-internet-sambalpur-students-trek-to-angul-boudh-border-for-online-classes-202174