New Delhi: The Supreme Court has sought a reply from the government of India on how has it completely relied on CoWIN app for registration of vaccines when there is such a huge digital gap in the country and whether a specific daily quota can be introduced for on site registration in vaccination centres.
The bench led by Justice DY Chandrachud has cited a survey of NSO on "Household Social Consumption: Education" for the year 2017-18 according to which only 4% rural household and 23% urban household possessed a computer. In the age group 15-29 24% rural household and 56% of urban household know how to operate the computer. 24% of the whole country had internet access, 15% in rural areas and 42% in urban areas.
The order also cites TRAI's report titled "Wireless data Services in India" according to which out 1.3 billion population, only 578 million have subscription to wireless data services. The report had also noted that wireless tele density in rural areas is 57.13% compared to 155.49% in urban areas which means that there is rural urban divide.
"The monthly income of persons living below the poverty line in urban areas and rural areas is Rs 1,316 and Rs 896 respectively. However, the internet data service of a minimum tariff plan would cost around Rs 49 which includes 1GB data every 28 days. This would constitute 45% of the month's income of such persons accessing data. As such the report notes that this would be a considerable cost for persons living below the poverty line," stated the court.
It observed that in such a situation it is not feasible to ask the majority of our population to rely on friends, NGOs etc when even the digitally literate are finding it difficult to get slots.