The suspension of internet in the composite Adilabad district since December 16 by State government in order to curb circulation of rumours on social media and messaging platforms to control violence in the Agency areas in the backdrop of the violent incidents between Adivasis and Lambada tribe has impacted the life of those who use the modern way of communication for productive purposes.
Students wanting caste or other certificates and also applying online for employment and citizens who had to pay bills or fines online could not do so as the Meeseva centres could not operate in the absence of internet connectivity.
Even business transactions like cotton trade and the treasury have been affected.
“We have had no transaction since December 16. Hundreds of applications for caste and income certificates needed by the aspirants of the recently announced TSPSC and DSC recruitments are waiting for internet services to restart also to apply online,” revealed Nilesh Rekulwar, a Meeseva and Customer Service Centre operator at Mutnur village in Indervelli mandal of Adilabad.
Banking services
“Customers who availed banking services at our CSC cannot do so until the internet resumes. Those who want to carry out corrections in their AADHAAR cards also need to wait until things return to normal,” he added.
The sale of liquor through the Telangana State Beverages Corporation Limited was also affected owing to loss of internet connectivity. Liquor retailer has to place indents and make payments online to lift required quantum of liquor from the TSBCL depots at Utnoor and Mancherial. “Against a normal sale of about ₹ 2 crore worth of liquor from the two depots, we are now dispensing only about half the quantum,” disclosed an official in the Excise and Prohibition department in Adilabad.
Treasury operations
“My son in Hyderabad makes the indent and payment for liquor. The depot authorities process the indent during the brief period when internet services are restored,” pointed out a liquor retailer of the rigmarole he is undergoing.
The State Treasury also experienced transaction issues owing to non-availability of the internet services. The Kumram Bheem Asifabad District Treasury Office at Asifabad has not transacted any business since the internet was suspended.
“I have been to Patan Bori village in neighbouring Yavatmal district in Maharashtra to get an eWaybill for the cotton bales I needed to transport,” revealed Deepak Birolia, a cotton trader in Adilabad.
“As I could not get the eWaybill five lorry loads of bales which were to be sent to destinations in other States were stranded,” he added.
