Morung Express News
December 15
DIMAPUR: Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) the lone Telecommunications services provider in Nagaland, for once had a hard time rallying up to rapid “sensitive” and “difficult” questions posed by media persons gathered at the conference hall of the Chief General Manager (CGM, NE-II circle) of the BSNL.
The press conference was called by the telecom giant to highlight its latest services-addition, DataOne Broadband Internet services, which marked official launching today.
The salient features of DataOne Broadband includes a speed connection of 256 Kbps and above, usage of ADSL 2+ Technology, simultaneous use of both Telephone and Internet, affordable and attractive packages, absence of disconnection, instant connectivity, PC bundling of Broadband connection and 24 hours running capacity.
The BSNL has often been charged of dodging pressing issues pertaining to what consumers have categorically termed as ‘deficient’ and ‘wanting’ consumer-services by subscribers and the general public alike in the local print media.
As well as that student-organizations not hesitating to express strong displeasure in more ways than one, has not helped in bolstering the credibility of the corporation as witnessed particularly for the last two years ever since cellular services were launched.
Conveniently for the media persons at the press conference, it was an opportunity to address and “dig” certain obvious issues ignoring for once the actual purpose for the press gathering – DataOne Broadband Internet Services.
And the fact that the BSNL is mired in a hullabaloo with the North East Students’ Organization (NESO) over irregularities in employment quotas, faulty billing systems, poor network facilities and general “deficient” telecommunications services made things more forthcoming. (Curiously, a meeting with NESO leaders was slated for around late afternoon after the press conference itself).
Most of the journalists present at the occasion evidently displayed little interest in the new service – amply illustrated so when the reporters launched into rapid questions ranging from BSNL’s stand vis-à-vis NESO demands to poor tele-network, “cheating bills” to ‘careless attitude of BSNL towards Nagaland consumers’.
The question veered from one “sensitive and difficult” topic, as a BSNL official present put it, to another but never one on the DataOne Broadband Internet service. This had the BSNL officials deviating from making direct response to the ‘sensitive and difficult’ queries posed.
CGM, NE-II circle, Ashok Golas obviously digressing from the queries posed, regularly maintained long and winding explanations so much that more than often the reporters had to remind the CGM himself that he was trying to evade the issues represented.
One time when a reporter asked him “Are there any recruitment policies for locals in the C and D categories (as demanded for institution and filling by the NESO)?” The CGM responded by presenting a long winding explanation on e-business, internet connection and so on that an exasperated a photographer interrupted him by declaring that “you are trying to escape too much because cellular network service in Nagaland is non-existent”.
Another query “BSNL has always given a rosy picture and promises with new services but regularly failed to deliver. What is the guarantee that DataOne Internet services won’t be the same?” took repetitions for the officials to ‘understand’ so much so that another reporter turned to the one who posed the question and told him “you forget about your ‘guarantee’ question, they don’t understand!” Further questions on network-capacity, poor service provisions etc were brushed off as too sensitive and “difficult” by the CGM and the General officials present.
Weighting from the public criticism in the media, consumers have come to view the BSNL as a monopolistic, corporate-minded and ‘uncaring’ corporation where money-minting projects extracted from deficient services have prevailed over quality services and consumer trust.
The BSNL should be lauded for introducing new concepts of telecommunication infrastructure in keeping with progressive technological demands but it is imperative the grievances of consumers be addressed with pro-active initiatives for actual service-improvement. This would build as well as consolidate the trust of consumers and public alike, in the BSNL again.
