JK News Today
Jammu, November 27
Reacting to the Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s call to embrace e-banking, mobile Banking and more such technology, former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah questioned this possibility in Jammu and Kashmir state.
Omar in his tweet today after Modi’s Mann ki Baat said, “I’d love to move to a cashless economy but given the reliability of connectivity in J&K & absence of points of sale I fear i’d starve.”
Jammu and Kashmir has poor mobile and internet connectivity which the providers also do not care to set right.
Then the frequent and long disruptions of mobile and internet connectivity on orders of state government “as precautionary measure to control law and order,” would make e-banking ad mobile banking not possible. Recently the pre-paid mobile and all mobile internet services in Kashmir were suspended on 08th July after clashes following killing of Hizbul Mujahedeen Commander Burhan Wani.
While the prepaid mobiles services were restored about a month ago the postpaid mobile internet services were restored 18th November but prepaid mobile internet is still off.
There were many such occasions when administration has ordered suspension of mobile and mobile internet services “as precautionary measure to maintain law and order.”
Over and above this the remotely lying areas of Jammu and Kashmir have no or very poor mobile connectivity.
On this Omar tweeted, ” And I live in Srinagar. Imagine asking people living in Gurez, Karnah, Keran & other remote areas to dispense with cash!!! Totally unrealistic idea.”
