look news india
The Government has approved the consideration of a private member's bill to provide the right to free internet to every citizen while ensuring equal access to people in backward and remote areas of the country.
The Bill proposes, 'No citizen shall be required to pay any fee or charge for denying access to internet facilities.'
The bill was introduced in the Rajya Sabha by Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPM) member V Sivadasan in December 2023. According to a bulletin issued by the upper house of Parliament, Telecom Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia has informed the Rajya Sabha secretary general that the President has recommended the House to consider the bill.
The bill states that every citizen shall have the right to free internet. Also, while ensuring universal access to the internet for all citizens, the concerned government shall take special measures to provide equal access to the internet to citizens of backward and remote areas of the country.
The bill aims to expand the scope of the constitutional right to freedom of expression granted to all citizens of the country, making the internet freely accessible to all. The bill also states that this will bridge the digital divide in society. According to the bill, the Constitution makes the right to freedom of expression a fundamental right for all citizens.
Therefore, they should be able to use the Internet to exercise and benefit from their right to freedom of expression and other basic human rights.
The Bill states that the central government should provide internet facility to all citizens directly or indirectly. Alternatively, the services provided by any service provider should be fully subsidised to ensure free access to the internet for all citizens. It is also proposed that the Centre will provide funds as grants-in-aid to the states to enable them to implement the provisions of the Act.