Shillong, Jan. 25: Hundreds of mobile phone subscribers in the city have threatened to expose an alleged attempt by the Reliance Telecom Limited?s Shillong chapter to ?dupe and exploit the consumer?. The proposed switch-over from the existing pre-paid (smart card users) mobile system to the post-paid system, as has been announced by the Reliance Telecom Limited?s Shillong office, has met with opposition.
While the mobile service providers claim that the decision to change over from the pre-paid to the post-paid was based on a directive from the Union ministry of communications, subscribers have dismissed it as ?an eyewash and a business lobby at work?.
Many subscribers have met chief minister D.D. Lapang and have urged him to intervene. Some have even threatened to call for ?an investigation? into the ?questionable decision of the Reliance? to impose a change only in the Northeast.
Last evening, a group of women activists, led by a teacher, Ampreen Lyngdoh, met chief minister Lapang and apprised him of the ?exploitative policies adopted by Reliance?.
The women activists challenged the Union government directive and asked the chief minister to take up the matter with the Centre.
?The chief minister asked us to get him copies of the Centre?s directive. It is clear that the state government is also not aware of the changes and so we are convinced something is wrong somewhere?, said Grace, another subscriber.
Subscribers have refused to comply with what they call ?manipulative tactics? of Reliance.
They argue that ?the new system has been thought off to make money and nothing else?. Besides fixed rentals, ranging from Rs 175 for light users to Rs 349 for heavy users, an additional Rs 1,000 has to be paid as security deposit and another Rs 1,000 for STD connection.
?If security threats due to insurgency has prompted the Centre to do away with the pre-paid system in the Northeast, then why bring about changes in monetary rules? There must be a proper explanation,? said K. Sohtun, a subscriber.
With mounting pressure from subscribers and several organisations, like the Khasi Students? Union (KSU) to withdraw all plans to shift into the new mode, Reliance Telecom Limited branch manager in Shillong, Joslin Mrythong, came out in defence of the company.
?While making the migration mandatory, the Union government did not consult or take into confidence Reliance mobile. The company therefore has no role to play in making the shift from pre-paid to post-paid?, said a press hand-out, issued by the Reliance Shillong chapter recently.