Bombay HC bats for dedicated education TV channel for students amid pandemic

MUMBAI: The Bombay high court on Monday batted for a dedicated education television channel for all students suffering internet connectivity issues, particularly during the Covid-19 pandemic.
The suggestion to the state and Centre was made by Chief Justice Dipankar Datta and Justice Girish Kulkarni who heard a PIL by National Association for the Blind. Its advocate, Uday Warunjikar, said visually challenged students face network issues in rural areas and stand to lose an academic year. “There are 900 special schools in Maharashtra, including 200 schools for the blind. For the blind, there is no education at all,’’ Warunjikar added.
The state’s advocate, Reena Salunkhe, said online classes are held for challenged students in rural areas through online applications and home visits. “But when I visit Nagpur or Aurangabad (HC benches), I do not get a mobile network. As CJ, if I do not get a network, do you expect the rural population to get a network?” CJ Datta asked. The judges questioned why the National Council of Educational Research and Training does not think of a full-fledged education channel on Doordarshan. “Otherwise we have hundreds of channels…many of movies and other entertainment. Why not an education channel? Not only for the disabled, but also those who have suffered (during the pandemic),” said Justice Kulkarni.
The judges said reliance must not be placed only on mobile network and added that television and radio are satellite operated. “Every house has a TV in rural areas,” said Justice Kulkarni. The judges said Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha have their own channels and soon judicial proceedings will be live.
In the order, the judges noted their suggestion that the “state and Centre together explore imparting education through Akashvani and Doordarshan and...have a dedicated channel not only for the disabled but also those without disability, particularly during the pandemic.” The state will respond on Thursday.