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.
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