We know Coronavirus (Covid-19) is making us all a little more cautious. In the midst of the Covid-19 crisis, we’re still live, and ready to service our community.
To protect the wellbeing of our student, university and people community, we’ve introduced a digital infrastructure so you can connect with us, our partners and our people, online! Our learning facilities too are now virtual so everything runs seamlessly while we together navigate and get through this global health crisis.
If you want to connect or to discuss anything related to your Global Ed, Learning or Mobility journey, you can Schedule a meeting with us and all of these bookings will be done virtually now! Once you’ve sent us your info, we will send you a link so you can log in for your slot!
This crisis impacts us all in our global community, so let’s be responsible, take the precautions and get through this together! We will get through this!
COVID just Worsened the Digital Divide. What Are the Solutions?
Over the last several months, the world has had to deal with lock-downs, restrictions, and social distancing measures as preventive strategies against COVID-19. With a majority of society staying indoors, ‘normal life’ – be it social gatherings, work, or education – has come to a grinding halt. In the face of these obstructions, people have turned to Information and Communication Technologies to adapt to being home, and to continue functioning as ‘normally’ as possible. While this has been a great switch for people with a stable internet connection and access to technology, it has also left a large population of the world helpless. Those without internet and devices are being left behind, and the COVID-19 pandemic is creating and worsening a new form of social division in society – the digital divide.
The usual suspects
Access to digital infrastructure has been shown to differ greatly based on two factors: gender and income. All over the world, and particularly in India, women are less likely to have access to the internet or technology than men. In Bangladesh, for example, 42% males have access to mobile baking, as opposed to a mere 10% of women. Even in a ‘progressive’ and developed country like Singapore, 21% of males have access to mobile money accounts, compared to only 8% of females. These numbers make it clear that the digital divide particularly affects women across the world. This means, therefore, that COVID-19 has made access to work, education, and even socialising tougher for women, due to their relative lack of access.
Similarly, low-income households worldwide have lesser rates of digital access as compared to richer households. This creates problems for a number of reasons. For one, it leads to a form of double discrimination for the female population – women in general are less likely to have digital access, but women from poor income households are even less likely to have said access – because they belong to both technologically marginalised groups.
Further, the digital divide has doomed those from poor income households in the employment sphere as well. To begin with, those from low income households are statistically more likely to work in professions that require face-to-face interaction and their physical presence – eg: construction, manufacturing, transportation – jobs that cannot be shifted online. This lack of job flexibility has led to millions of people being let go since they are no longer required in their workplaces – making those who are poor even poorer. To add to this, those from low-income households who are working in sectors that are now working from home have also had to be let go, due to their lack of access to WiFi and technology. The digital divide, therefore, has led to major disruption in the lives of millions of women, and low-income families across the world
The risk of price gouging
COVID-19, therefore, has essentially made both technology and the internet necessary services, without which one cannot secure an income, get educated, or even socialise. This has led to a record high demand for mobile data services in India, since it is easier, cheaper, and more accessible than a broadband connection. The high demand, coupled with the fact that data is a form of an inelastic demand, could mean that data companies could collude – making the most of a pandemic by making profits for themselves. In India in particular, the mobile data market oligopoly (Jio, Airtel and Vodafone), could come together and collectively raise the prices of data services. Considering the internet is now an essential service, such a move would face opposition but ultimately customers would have to comply due to the necessity of the product and the lack of a cheaper alternative. However, this would hurt the digital divide, and the poorest and most marginalised would be worst affected – having to drop out of using these data plans if the prices are raised. This in turn would lead to the same domino effect – lack of access to data leads to lower employment, and the poor therefore getting poorer.
How, then, can the divide be reduced?
In comes the government
To begin with, governments across the world must ensure that such opportunistic and unethical practices, such as price gouging, do not take place – particularly at a time when people are vulnerable. Next, as more activities are moved away from physical settings, governments may be forced to invest more into ensuring that it is indeed possible to ‘work from home.’ This could be in the form of direct provision of goods – for example, the government providing laptops and data connections to students, or by providing subsidies (or even reducing import duties) for tech companies to be able to sell their goods at a lower rate. Governments could also step in by creating access centres – eg computer rooms – for people to be able to come and use or rent desktop screens as required by their employers / institutions.
It is clear that with COVID-19, the reliance on technology, and the lack of access to it, are both increasing, and the digital divide is worsening – particularly affecting women, those from lower-income backgrounds, and those who live in areas with lower connectivity. Those who are already marginalised are now having multiple opportunities taken away from them, and the shift to the online world has only been advantageous for those who can afford it to begin with. It is crucial, therefore, to ensure that those with access barriers do not get left behind, and that governments, technology firms, as well as civil society organisations with grassroots outreach come together to widen access for those who lack it, and ensure that an increased dependence on the digital world does not mean forgetting those who inhabit the real one.
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Terms of Service
Last revised date: January 1st, 2020
“TC Global”, “we”, “our” or “us” refers to the Company, The Chopras Global Holdings PTE Ltd. and its affiliates. “You” or “your” refers to the user or customer accessing our website and services.
Applicability
These Terms govern your access and use of our website [https://tcglobal.com/]. By accessing or using our website in any way, including as an unregistered website visitor, you agree to be bound by these Terms and our Privacy Policy (also available on the website). These Terms apply to your use of our website, and the content made available on or through the website. Other services offered by us may require you to execute separate agreements or agree to other terms as applicable.
We reserve our right to change or revise these Terms at any time by making changes on our website. We encourage you to revisit and review these Terms and stay informed of any changes. Your continued use of the website following the posting of any changes to the Terms constitutes acceptance of those changes.
Legally binding
These Terms constitute a legally binding contract. The Terms shall be in effect as on the date you use or access any of our services.
Content
The text, images, videos, audio clips, software and other content generated, provided, or otherwise made accessible on or through the website (collectively, “Content”) are contributed by us and our licensors. The Content is protected by international copyright laws. We and our licensors retain all proprietary rights in the website and the Content made available on or through the website, and, no rights are granted to any Content. Subject to these Terms, we grant each user of the website a worldwide, non-exclusive, non-sublicensable and non-transferable license to use (i.e., to download and display locally) Content solely for viewing, browsing and using the functionality of the website. Any commercial or promotional distribution, publishing or exploitation of our services or content related to our services is strictly prohibited.
All Content is for general informational purposes only. We reserve the right, but do not have any obligation to monitor, remove, edit, modify or remove any Content, in our sole discretion, at any time for any reason or for no reason at all.
Third Party Products and Services
Our services may contain links to third party information, websites, products, services or resources that are not owned or controlled by us. We do not endorse any such third party content. If you access or use such third party content through our services, you do so at your own risk. You agree that we have no responsibility arising from your access to or use of any such third party information, websites, products, services or resources.
Limitation of Liability; Disclaimer
To the extent permitted by law, we and our affiliates, successors and each of our and their employees, assignees, officers, agents and directors (collectively, the “TC Global Parties”) disclaim all warranties and terms, express or implied, with respect to the website, Content or services (including third party services) on or accessible through the website, including any warranties or terms of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, title, non-infringement and any implied warranties, or arising from course of dealing, course of performance or usage in trade.
In no event shall the TC Global Parties be liable under contract, tort, strict liability, negligence or any other legal or equitable theory with respect to the website for (a) any special, indirect, incidental, punitive, compensatory or consequential damages of any kind whatsoever (however arising) or (b) damages in excess of (in the aggregate) INR 2,000/-.
Governing Law
These Terms shall be governed by, construed and interpreted in accordance with the laws of India without regard to or application of its conflict of law provisions or your state or country of residence and the courts of New Delhi shall have exclusive jurisdiction.
Miscellaneous
Severability - If any term, condition or provision of these Terms is held to be invalid, unenforceable or illegal in whole or in part for any reason, that provision shall be enforced to the maximum extent permissible so as to effect the intent of the parties. The validity and enforceability of the remaining terms, conditions or provisions, or portions of them, shall not be affected.
Waiver – If you fail to exercise or enforce any provisions or rights under these Terms, it will be deemed as a waiver of future enforcement of that or any other provision or right.
Contact Information
If you wish to provide us with any comments, feedback, or suggestions you may send it to [feedback@thechoprasglobal.com] or by post at [No. 3, Shenton Way #10-05, Shenton House Singapore - 068805].
Privacy Policy
The Chopras Global Holdings PTE Ltd. and its affiliates (“TC Global”, “we”, “our” or “us”) care about your privacy. We are committed to maintaining your trust by protecting your personal information. This Privacy Policy (‘Policy’) describes the information we gather on our website or through our website services, applications, or other services as well as any offline products, programs or courses, how we use such information, and the steps we take to protect such information. By visiting our website, using our online services, by downloading our mobile app, or by purchasing or using our services, you accept the privacy practices described in this Policy.
. The Information We Collect
We collect different information depending on our engagement with you and the requirements of applicable law as described below.
When you use our website, you provide us data through a variety of ways. This information includes your name, number, e-mail and service interest. We also collect information regarding your profile.
We collect the information: (a) that you provide to us directly; (b) that your parent, or guardian provides to us; (c) about your use of our services, and (d) If you opt in to certain features or depending on your device settings, we obtain geo-location data.
. Usage of the Information
We use the information we collect to operate our business and provide you with quality service. The extent of our usage is contingent on which services you use, how you use them, and any preferences you may have. Illustratively, we use your information to:
Provide services and improve your experience: We use information about you to respond to your queries, comments and concerns, provide customer and technical support, and operate and maintain the services.
Improve our services and customer support: We use the information to understand and analyze the usage trends and queries received from you to improve our services and support.
Send emails and other communications: We may also send communications to notify you of new information and improvements in our services.
Comply with applicable law: We use the information to comply with our legal obligations and enforce our legal rights, such as, among other things, to exercise contractual rights, to comply with financial reporting obligations in accordance with applicable law.
. To Whom We Disclose Information
We disclose your information in limited circumstances to members of TC Global, our service providers, and other end users, in order to provide our services and to improve your experience. Where required by applicable law, we will only share your information with particular third parties with your consent.
In exceptional circumstances, we may share information about you with a third party if we believe that sharing is reasonably necessary to (a) comply with any applicable law, regulation, or court order, (b) enforce our agreements, policies and terms of service, (c) defend ourselves against any claims or allegations, and (d) protect TC Global from fraudulent, abusive, or unlawful use or activity.
. How to Access Information
You may request details of personal information we hold about you under applicable law. You may object to our use of your information (including for marketing purposes), or to request the modification, restriction or deletion of your information. If you wish to do so, please contact us via our contact details provided below.
. Security
We follow generally accepted industry standards to protect the information submitted to us, both during transmission and once we receive it. TC Global takes reasonable steps endeavoring to use appropriate technical or organizational measures to protect your information, including against unauthorized or unlawful processing and accidental loss, destruction, or damage.
Whilst we will endeavor to maintain security, given the nature of communications and information processing technology, we cannot guarantee that information, during transmission through the Internet or while stored on our systems or otherwise in our care, will be absolutely safe from intrusion by others.
TC Global is not responsible for the content or accuracy of the personal data contained in the information provided by you and stored on its servers nor is TC Global responsible for the manner in which users collect, handle disclosure, distribute or otherwise process such information.
. Collection of Information from Children
Generally, our online services are not directed to children, and we do not knowingly collect personal information from children except as permitted under applicable law.
If we become aware that a child under has provided us with information, we will delete such information from our files or obtain parental consent in accordance with applicable law.
. Third Parties
This Privacy Policy does not apply to services provided by third parties. We display advertisements and other content from third parties or partners that link to third-party websites that we do not own or operate. We provide links to these third-party sites as a convenience to you. They are not intended as an endorsement of or referral to the linked services. The linked services are subject to their separate and independent privacy statements, notices, and terms. Additionally, third parties may sell goods or offer services at our facilities or in combination with our services. We are not responsible for that third parties’ services or their privacy practices.
We cannot control or be held responsible for third parties’ privacy practices and content. Please read their privacy policies to find out how they collect and process your information. We are not responsible for the data collection, privacy, and information sharing policies and procedures or content of such third-party websites.
. Transferring Your Data
TC Global is headquartered in India, and has operations, entities and service providers in India and other parts of the world. As such, we and our service providers may transfer your personal information to, or access it in, jurisdictions (including India) that may not provide equivalent levels of data protection as your home jurisdiction. We will take steps to ensure that your personal information receives an adequate level of protection in the jurisdictions in which we process it, including through compliance with applicable law.
. Changes to our Privacy Policy
Please revisit this page periodically to stay aware of any changes to this Policy which we may update from time to time. We will post any changes by a notice on our homepage or by sending you an email notification.
Your continued use of the website following the posting of any changes to the Website Terms constitutes acceptance of those changes.
. Contact Us
Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions, concerns or complaints about this Policy, our practices, or are interested in excising your rights. You may email us at [feedback@thechoprasglobal.com] or contact us at our mailing address below:
[No. 3, Shenton Way #10-05, Shenton House Singapore - 068805]
. Country-Specific Terms for India
Indian law defines ‘ sensitive personal information’ to mean information relating to: (i) passwords; (ii) financial information such as bank account/credit card/debit card details; (iii) physical, physiological and mental health condition; (iv) sexual orientation; (v) medical records and history; (vi) biometric information; (vii) any details relating to the above clauses as required for providing you with access to TC Global’s platform; and (viii) any of the information received under above clauses for processing, stored or processed under lawful contract or otherwise. Unless otherwise specified in the Privacy Policy, ‘personal information’ will include ‘sensitive personal information’ as well. By using our platform and TC Global services, you will be deemed to have consented to TC Global’s collection, disclosure and transfer of your personal information. By way of illustration, you will have provided us such consent by your conduct if you choose to share your personal information while using the TC Global platform, such as by including sensitive personal information in your content or by providing sensitive personal information in your registration information.
While transferring personal information collected from individuals in India, we will ensure that it is transferred to entities that offer at least the same levels of data protection as adhered to by us.