94% kids don't have smartphones or internet to access e-education: CRY

A survey among children in four southern states found that about 94 per cent of the respondents did not have access to smartphones or the internet for online education.

The study conducted by child rights body CRY in May-June covered 5,987 children in Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. The information was collected by CRY's community organisers through telephonic interviews.

The objective of the study was to embark on a fact-finding mission on "internet accessibility of children" in the age group of 11-18 years.

"With schools closed and mobility restricted due to the Covid-19 pandemic, CRY wanted to envisage