Urgent need to Provide internet facilities in Rural area.Tanveer Qureshi.

GNS ONLINE NEWS PORTAL

POONCH DEC 08:-Tanveer Iqbal Qureshi, a resident of Village Chhattral, Tehsil Mendhar, District Poonch, has submitted a formal application to the Administrative Secretary of the Rural Development Department, Jammu and Kashmir Union Territory, urging the installation of internet facilities in the far-flung area of Pyt Narol near the Higher Secondary School, Chhattral.

In his plea, Qureshi highlighted the severe digital divide in the region, nearly 90% of the population lives below the poverty line and lacks access to basic amenities, including reliable internet connectivity. The village, surrounded by 13 to 14 panchayats and home to an estimated 20,000–25,000 people, who are struggling modern education and digital resources to its residents.

“The school-going children of this area possess immense potential to excel in various fields if they are provided with basic facilities such as internet access,” Qureshi wrote. He further requested the district administration to provide laptops along with internet facilities to help bridge the educational gap.

The appeal underscores the pressing need for digital infrastructure in rural areas, where students and residents alike are at a disadvantage due to a lack of connectivity. Qureshi hopes the authorities will take swift action to address this issue and bring much-needed progress to the region.

Local advocacy groups and residents have expressed their support for the initiative, urging the government to prioritize rural development and ensure equitable access to digital resources. The district administration’s response is still awaited.