Telecom Terror – How a Ticking TeleBomb is done

Telecom as we know is a revolution in our era. It has truly redefined distance. But it does comes with threats. While its a great tool to save time, It also gives sleepless nights to security agencies as threat perception has increased many fold. This is due to fact that easy access to Communication technology by criminals & terrorists helps them better organize, Coordinate and strike. We here have seen a trailer in 26/11 Mumbai deplorable attacks. And Police archives stand testimony to how everyday crimes are carried with these tools.

So, what's the Home Ministry doing? Well, they realized this long back and issued direction way back in 2003 to DoT to sell SIM cards only after reasonably verifying documents. Telecom Regulatory body has setup TERM cell with very senior and highly paid gazetted officers with the cost paid by our taxes, to monitor private telecom Service providers.  But a recent CAG report tabled in parliament in 1st week of Aug'l4 provides a window to see what's happening behind the scene under the carpet.

This article only puts reality in perspective from an insider's experience.

First of all, its all about PROFITS & only PROFITS. Security, National Concern, Corruption, National Pride, Ethics... they all never figure. According to these telecom companies, That's Corporate. Government regulatory body appears to agree. Home ministry appears to be either helpless or may be agreeing too. Probably government officers must be Profiting.

Supreme Court had to intervene on this matter after which, from Nov'11, regulatory (TERM) cell further mandated  to (a) Have original documents of customer verified & application form personally signed by Companies direct employees. (b) Before activation, customer has to call a specific number to verify identity from his /her mobile.

But what happens really!!!  Company covertly through its staff compels to forge documents to its distributors. They professionally reimburse the cost of expense incurred during forgery sometimes by means of activation fees & sometimes by employee subsidy.   

These funds are used to purchase forged documents at as high as Rs.4/- per document. Now that's a very compelling business Case for the forging industry given cost of document preparation is Rs.2/- only. When these forged documents come to Company, they come in groups of 6 documents per user. Employee assigned to verify & sign the documents are forced to overlook the fact that how every document comes in on set of 6 or sometimes 8 each. That too, same hand -writing even on signatures in all documents. All signatures here have a certain patterns. This way, around atleast 90% of documents today in Odisha are forged (apparently).

So how does these get Verified as Customers need to call a number to verify identity. That too from their own mobile which is supposed to have a unique number called IMEI. Well, this process is circumvented by front-line associates who Call to activate 10O's of numbers from their mobile handset. Thus, any one including criminals just have to pay w/out any document to obtain a SIM. And Yes, official records show this, Everyone is aware of it - even the TERM Cell's high paid gazetted officers. But only greed or only they know why they turn a blinding eye to it.

Does police & Home Ministry doesn't know? Well, its hard to believe they aren't aware.  Infact, they are very much informed but as obvious, their ever questionable ethics and carelessness is partly responsible to this criminal negligence to nation's internal security. Government Regulatory Head of Odisha knows about it in greater detail, agrees to the risk but expresses inability to work with local law enforcement for various practical reasons. Instead, they advice us to be careful as according to him, we are ants trying to take on elephants of system. So is the view of law-enforcement authorities. I wonder what makes him/them think so as I always knew we are all equal. Right to equality is embedded in our constitution.

So what Now!!!

Answer is simple. Corruption is widespread, law Enforcement and government regulatory is blind (selectively). So its for common people to decide. Do you like to live like this and tolerate mis-governance? What if a Bomb goes of by using one of these terror tools and life is lost!! Even worse, what if the life lost is that of your loved ones, God Forbid. 

 I leave the choice to you.

As for me, I have decided to stop being one of the three monkeys. Not anymore. Even if it means that I may have to pay a price. But it is my resolve not to go quietly into the night. Not to give up without a fight. Not till this farce is stopped & justice upheld. Hence, I appreciated the care and support of a team of socially concerned fellow citizen and dedicated rights activists to approach honorable court to direct the executive to correct the situation and through transparent & honest investigation, detect and send to reform each of the criminally neglecting minds.

If not then, let the government announce that subscriber documents are not required and threat perception is incorrect.  This way we can save environment by protecting tonnes of papers unnecessarily forged and stacked for no real good. We are talking about Tonnes & Tonnes of papers here every month.       May the mockery of law of land come to an End.  May the trust on Justice be upheld. Above all, may the common citizen join the fight and strengthen our resolve. May the internet and Facebook loving people visit www.Facebook.come/IndiaTelecomTerror and like the page to show your support.       

Godspeed.    

- Amogh Mund 

20-Oct-2014

ps: This article underscores the apathy and irony of our Indian society and indifference of the government to its own rules. Justice though is delayed in India, we cannot be hopless towards it and continue to look forward for judiciary to uphold the law. There is no other civilized option left.

Truth vs Hype - Atal Pension Yojana

Amitabh Bacchan - the most respected silver screen personality of India. I have been a fan of his work since my childhood. Every time I hear a voice resembling his, I can't help but pay attention to what he is saying.  These days, I hear him speaking about two of Modi Sarkaar's pet programmes for citizens of India. One of them being "Atal Pension Yojana". It was a great show of Modi sarkaar's leadership and its concern towards the citizen to care for their old age and hence launch such a pension plan. Amitabh keeps educating to deposit just Rs. 210/- per month from age of 18 and receive Rs. 5000/- per month from age of 60 yrs.  

Modi Ji has been widely accepted and appreciated for his communication and marketing skills. When asked about it, I was delighted to hear from him that marketing is critical part of every aspect of our life and we must do it, for it is only through marketing that your thoughts and actions get communicated to audience at large. Modi Ji is undoubtedly my campaign and communication super hero. It is a signature of a good and great leaders to be able to communicate.  Everybody I spoke to was in appreciation for Modi sarkaar's this program.

So effective was this communication of "Atal Pension Yojana" that I decided to join the program myself. It is in my nature, to review any plan in detail once before signing in. Thus I started.   If I pay Rs. 210/- per month (as requested by Amitabh Ji on TV) from age of 18 yrs to 60 Yrs, I would have paid Rs. 105,840/- (around 1 Lakh) in 504 months . But that’s just principal. What about interest ?? These days, banks are offering a retail interest rate of minimum of 8.5%-9% on fixed deposits to those below 60 yrs. An extra 0.25% to Senior Citizens. Thus I would have collected Rs. 10 Lakh + in my account by age of 60 Yrs at an interest of 8.5%.   

It felt like a rock falling over my head when I realized that at prevailing retail interest rate of 8.5%, the bank would give me Rs. 7366/- per month from age of 60 Yrs for which  Modi sarkaar was offering only Rs. 5000/- per month. I obviously took that this "Atal" yojana should be better than prevailing market rates. So where does the remaining Rs. 2366/- per month go ??  

Modi Sarkaar's "Atal Pension Yojana" is translating to 7.67% rate of Interest and denying additional 0.25% interest to the investing citizen who will be benefitted only after becoming Senior Citizen. Above all, if citizen invest in bank, they also have liberty to withdraw the collected sum of Rs. 10lakh + if they wish to,  but in Modi Sarkaar's "Atal Pension Yojana",  Amitabh Ji is not saying whether citizens can get back their collected sum if they wish to. As per the program brochure, in the period of investment, if the citizen discontinues payment for 5 years, the account would be closed.

I kept asking myself that when any citizen can get better pension without any Government plan or program, why is Modi sarkaar spending Crores of Indian Tax Payer's money in communicating to its citizen encouraging them to invest in a plan which will give them less than what they can get normally from any bank.   Also banks will return the total money collected, but Amitabh Ji has not clarified if Modi Sarkaar's Atal Pension Yojana will at all return the total collected money if citizen so wishes.

The Hype : Investment of Rs. 210/- per month from age of 18 in "Atal Pension Yojana" will guarantee pension of Rs. 5000/- per month from age of 60.

The Truth : Any bank on same investment in fixed deposit will guarantee pension of Rs. 7366/- with assurance to encash Rs. 10Lakh+ collected sum without any "Atal Pension Yojana". 

The Hype :  Pension of Rs. 5000/- is a great amount for Senior Citizens and "Atal Pension Yojana" is a step in protection of Senior Citizens old age requirement.

The Truth: Money is an economic instrument that has in its nature to reduce its worth in time. Every 10 Year, value of Rupee is decreasing 25 fold. An 18 Yrs old starting investment after educated by Amitabh ji today for 42Years, will receive Rs. 5000/- in 2057 when the value of Rs. 5000/- shall be equivalent to value of Rs. 50/-  today. So much for Old Age protection plan.

Dear Modi Sarkaar, It is the responsibility of the educated to educate and help the less educated. But it appears that the educated government of Modi Sarkaar is mis-leading. This is not good for future of our nation. Plz take corrective measure before its too late.

 

Godspeed Modi Sarkaar.  

God Bless India.

- Amogh, 10-Jun-2015

The ISIS Opportunity

The recent trend in terrorism has brought ISIS to the forefront of all "Islamic" fanaticism. It has now successfully overachieved than Al-Qaeda and been able to largely consolidate its power by networking with sporadic terror outfits lacking in resources and leadership.  A latest power equation is being witnessed to be unveiling in modern world.

We in India have been victim of several things including that of terrorism, Maoism and Separatism movement.  But this ISIS, its resources and corporate styled organized hiring and expanding is something that's surely giving sleepless nights to our security ministries managed by typical bureaucrats.

But why so. Why should our agencies fear our citizen getting carried away!!! Well there is one reason even our government agency know it. They know that common man is unhappy with his government and governing system. Our system doesn't even deliver justice to its citizen. Instead, are causing injustice by hands of law enforcement authorities. And they very well know it and believe that nothing can be done. Probably because that is how they remain in power, through injustice and illegal means adopted to circumvent true election process.

Thus, the ISIS opportunity. If you are not having easy access to justice, disappointed with the governing system and frustrated enough to see a choice of ISIS, or any other armed separatist to vent out regardless of how wrong that choice is going to be, do first write a letter to our government of your grievances with justice which compelled you to take this extreme decision. Government will always sit in its AC chambers and advice not to succumb but fight for your rights. Then tell them that in India those who fight for their and public rights are vulnerable in hands of government covertly attacking through their employees and contractors.

History speaks for itself that when justice is denied and law is differently applied, revolution is seeded. Is Maoism with weapon an auto creation?  With 4-crore cases pending decision in India, numerous not getting registered falling victim of complexes and jargons of judicial system and price of the agents of law we call lawyers. Those victims having no means to seek justice, when they get access to weapon through whatever mean, don't pose a threat alone but serve as a mirror to society.  Why should Naga separatist concede demand for a country they like calling Republic of Nagaland? May be they want control and better system which so far Indian government has failed in 69 years since independence and with 5000 year old civilization knowledge. Then, Is it a wrong demand !!!

Why isn't government waking up to reality? Why has it taken more than 69 years but still unable to have a superlative governing system for a 5000 year old civilization that is Bharat !!! Why is government afraid of voice of its own people? Is it because most criminals have become part of legislative !!  Its then a situation of confrontation.   Fundamental of discussion, thus, is not just dialogue but instruments for dialogue without which even our democratic government bullies us. This is not a hypothetical statement but a personal experience too.

Government may love to live in denial as much as they can. But when people facing injustice and later denied/delayed justice start flocking to such extremist groups, may be...yes may be then our government will wakeup helplessly acknowledging their negligence and showering a round of choonawi joomla's (election lies). 

WakeUp Modi Sarkaar.  Before the ISIS Opportunity and other similar opportunities compel you to wake-up to these facts.

God Bless India.

- Amogh, 16-Aug-2015

 

ps; This Article underscores the need for government to fix the governance and judiciary deficit with urgency before the cancer of ISIS and other separatist takes over the nation of angry and frustrated and justice denied citizens.

Prisoner of Pen

I recently came across a story on how a "comma" took a person's life. Yes a comma.  Call it an urban legend or a myth, whatever you like. The story was about a person convicted in Indian court of law and was scheduled to be hanged by order of the court. But he managed to get a stay order that reached in time to the supervising officer in-charge of ensuring the execution of the hanging order of the court. To the utter dismay of the pleaders on behalf of the convicted person, the hanging was carried out.  The stay order said "Hang him, not wait for further court orders."  The court stay order, however, was meant to be "Hang him not, wait for further court orders."

India is a state of unity in diversity. One of the greatest diversity is its linguistic diversity. They say that around 1600 languages are spoken in India alone. And India has a literacy rate of below 50%. Literacy in India is defined as ability to write once own name as signature. Thus, it reflects that above 50% of the population of a democratic nation as populous as India cannot read and write, let alone reading English, the principle language to codify the law of the land. This raises a serious doubt on the basis of law and justice system with fundamental question of validity of the law of this democratic land that has above 50% of its population donot know / understand / contemplate.  Hence, it is presumably true that the civility in our nation is more based on its culture, custom and general principles of living over law of the land.

But then, here comes the axe. "Ignorance of this English codified Law is not valid reason for excuse."   All this has culminated into a wonderful opportunity to the legislatives of this nation who has gone ahead and created a mountain of laws in English, most of which the legislators are themselves confused of, and which a majority of population donot know / understand. This has thus created a layer with a battery of Black Coat agents posing as the knowledge agents of the complexity of law and on name of advocating by law for their client are indiscriminately violating the most fundamental law themselves. These agents we know as lawyers skim their clients with fees without records or bills, a serious economic offence and generation of black money in the country, interestingly by non-other than the agents of law. The sarcasm of the system doesn't stop here. It further extends to the fact that these lawyers, who have been for life being part of undermining the law, rise up to be judges of the court delivering justice. And above all, justice, apparently, doesn't depend on the law of the land but depends on representation of the knowledge of the law of the land represented by the competing parties either by self or through their law agents. It can only mean that regardless of what the law of the land may speak, judgement may be based upon how it is presented to the judges, reference to whom is forcefully preceded with words like Hon'ble or Lordship.  I only leave it to the imagination of my dear readers as to what the justice delivery system of our nation possibly could be. This I say because when a nation fails to deliver justice to its citizen is like sitting on a time-bomb waiting to be exploded.

India is a land of scholars, philosophers and great minds with high intelligence quotient (or IQ in short). But lately, it is seen that most great minds of India have become victims or supporters of these flaws of the system that has gripped us for around 170 years now of which 69 years have been when we are blessed to take our own decisions without tyranny or oppression. The steady deterioration in our society can be attributed to decreasing MQs (or Moral Quotient) of our people either due to incessant greed or daily struggle for basic needs of life. Either way, our society has become a reflection of the 3 monkeys of the father of our nation. I always wish he had a fourth (4th) one too that said "Bura Mat Karo" (Donot do Bad). Unfortunately, he only said not to hear, see or talk bad. So doing bad is Ok for when the father of our nation didn't talk about it, who am I to talk about it.

Our nation was formed on the fundamentals of being a "welfare" state meaning a state motivated to care for the well-being of its citizen's fundamental needs and rights. But inadvertently this welfare state has turned into a market instead of being a community or society.  A community and / or society is a group of people living together in an interdependent manner with a sense of reasonable care and concern for each other. A market is a place that is interested in extracting value from each other.  Every day I hit the road to travel, what I notice is markets, shops and large hoardings trying to sell something. I rarely come across places or hoardings that is talking of human values, morality and togetherness. And above all, the increasing disregard for people in need coupled with inability to restrict people begging for living raises serious alarm. Even the temples, expected to deliver emotional and spiritual peace, are experienced as a market, by non-other than the priests who give a clear impression of agents trying to extract some value quite competitively instead of someone intelligent willing to spread the knowledge. Most of these priest are even ill equipped to handle a small debate brushing away all such attempts saying beliefs are not to be questioned, quite the opposite to what is said in the Holy Bhagwat Gita. The spiritual philosophers of today have proven as to tapping into the lucrative market of spiritual sentiments of the market there by gaining significant financial strength coupled with political relevance and at times rising upto levels of power brokers.

When I introspect on these errors / biases / aberrations of our society, I try to reflect upon myself as to what is going wrong in our nation. The so called "Ram Raj" does seem to exist in some other nations where the society is progressive and creative with decisive and time-bound justice delivery system. But what will it take for my India to venture in to that path. Most common answer that I get is people with low IQ and no MQ have been successfully able to dwell in the affairs of legislation by electing themselves by extreme use of MP and CP (Muscle Power and Corruption Power) and thus ill fit to fix the dilapidating state of affairs. Instead, they are further brewing cronyism and corruption thereby installing an ineffective bureaucracy to suit individual comfort and sense of security. But I find myself not entirely convinced with this hypothesis even though I believe that the legislative powers are not in the hands of person with desired MQ and IQ.     

We have all heard the phrase "Pen is Mightier than the Sword". And being blessed to be part of a nation where Judiciary is a constitutionally independent body and in direct access of common man, I somewhere believe that the Pen has not done enough to bring about the desired change in the society. What good is a sword if it is never tried and fails to leave its holster at the time of need !!! Same principle applies to the pen too.  May be it’s the demand of time from our nation that has come for the Pen to do its job through constitutionally independent judiciary and media, together, to continuously question and challenge the ills, irony and sarcasm that has gripped our nation. Make no mistake that this is nothing less than a war with the MPs and CPs installed in legislative, bureaucratic powers and media presstitutes bound to pose not just a challenge but a threat too. And hence, not one Pen but collectively hundreds and thousands will be needed, be it to liberate our nation from hundreds of mindless laws, or to question and bring to justice the evils of our system, including that in judiciary itself. But over 170 years of poor MQ, our society is in a far degraded situation where the majority citizen in society blessed with Pen have been trained in a system that prepares them more for market than for the society with the trainers themselves engaged in training for their market needs with most trainers in Government service getting entry through CPs than meritss. Yes, Pen is a great potential liberator for our nation but till we pseudo-intelligent with acceptable MQs are concerned but coward citizens have it holstered in our pocket, pen will be in hands of legislators and system, with poor or no MQ and enough MPs and CPs, in a manner that will have us forever continue to be "Prisoner of Pen".

God Bless Indian Society.

- Amogh, 30-Aug-2015

ps - This Article underscores the need for learned citizen of India concerned with poor dilapidating state of affairs of our nation to rise up to the demand of time and start writing to media and judiciary on a continuous basis at a local level and small courts and distributing brochures to higher courts and media with large circulations for your voice and concern in large numbers and in continuous manner is only hope to liberate our system from its ills and evils. Unless we use our Pen as Liberator, those scoundrels will continue to have us the Prisoner of their Pen.

NaMo’s GiveUp Campaign

"Ask not what your country has done for you but what you have done for your country." – John F Kenedy. Precisely the sentiments that is shared by thousands and lakhs of our Indian social activist, social thinkers, media brethrens who take on the moral responsibility to "call the spade a spade" when your government wants it to be called a cushion.  There are millions in our society who believe in philanthropy in their own limited way and do for the society without waiting for government response. 

To bring this noble effort forward and encourage, "CSR – Corporate Social Responsibility" term has been associated with tax-relief and has been instrumental to engage money seeking corporates to profitably engage in social activity where CSR profit can be from as low as brand publicity to as high as eyeing projects under the umbrella of the CSR. But never mind the personal agenda of money seeking corporate entities of market, they are GivingUp some to society from what they have earned from them in the name of giving back to society.

My marketing super-hera, NaMo, has taken it to all new level. His latest GiveUp campaign has given an opportunity to every citizen to do something for its nation, a. By Giving Up Gas Subsidy, b. By Giving Up rights on ones own Land, c. By Giving Up expectation to be able to reach-out to their PM through proper channel.  I wonder what else can a common citizen can GiveUp for my hera !! May be (d.) to GiveUp right to ask question, (e.) right to criticize.  

In my limited knowledge, open secrets and popular beliefs, above 50% of MLA's and MP's are super rich and most of all 100% distribute their LAD (Local Area Development) Fund at a certain fixed commission that makes a portion of the tax payers LAD fund, a black money.  So, should they not GiveUp their Salary instead of hiking it every 2-3 years while OROP for Jawans takes 42 years. How about netas and babus GiveUp VIPgiri and LaalBatti that costs crores of taxpayers money for the cavalry for the self-obsession with their status symbols. The richest among middle-class today are Government Employees paid exorbitantly independent of their skills, work and ability. Do they GiveUp also !!! Because last I heard was claiming a dead body in Government hospitals comes with a price of corruption, as does giving birth to a child in our society comes for a price. In a country where corruption tax is applicable right from conceiving to being set on fire, well NaMo Ji, common man has made an ultimate GiveUp contribution.  Common Man has GivenUp Hope.

Ask a sainik/soldier who survived in extreme places for years, and the humble response would be "nurturing hope that there is hope." But Welcome to India, NaMo maharaj, people are giving up Hope - after they have given up their energy, time, focus, money for the well-being of our India, only to learn that they are being back-stabbed by non other than you. Yes, you are responsible for your government employee's action, inaction and illegal action since they represent you.  

Well, as for me, I haven't given up yet. Neither the Subsidy nor the Hope. 

You and your office have yet not dared to confirm an appointment with me over months on a matter as critical as National Security that is a symbol of your anxiousness, fear to face me for your illicit threat issued to me, and possibly inadvertent admission of guilt. NaMo ji, in exercising my freedom of Expression towards my Prime Minister, You Mr. PM have proven to be an empty Pot making lot of noise deserving lot more abuses that I reserve in the interest of Law and National Pride, unless you reason your indifference to the irony between your words and actions.

God Bless India.

- Amogh, 06-Sep-2015

ps: This Article underscores the irony between NaMo’s words and action. PM is calling to its citizen requesting to GiveUp their land, their subsidy on name of national interest while the team of netas and babus amass millions worth of property, corruption money and inability to protect or listen to risk to Security of the Nation and hurling threats to those who care and express interest to enable and support government.