The Hindu : Consumers plan agitation against phone tariff hike

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, May 11, 2003

Southern States

Southern States - Kerala-Thiruvananthapuram

Consumers plan agitation against phone tariff hike

By Our Staff Reporter

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM May 10. The All Kerala Telephone Consumers' Action Council has denounced the Telephone Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) for its `pro-rich, anti-consumer' stance. It has also decided to organise a State-wide agitation against the hike in telephone tariffs.

Now that the ball is in the Prime Minister's court, the council will send one lakh letters by consumers to the Prime Minister, urging him not to let TRAI squeeze the common man, it was decided at a meeting of the council here on Saturday.

Addressing the meeting, the president of the council, Mathew Paul, said the current tariff revisions were beneficial to high-users of telephone and business people, while it adversely affected the common man.

Telephone was no longer a luxury, but a basic communication facility.

While welcoming the move to provide incentives to high-users, he said that those for whom telephone was a necessity should not be taxed.

The reduction in the number of free calls was a big blow to low-use subscribers, who cannot afford to pay high bills, he said.

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