Letters to the Editor: Unfair practice by the cable network agency

Since the prepaid payment system was introduced, television consumers have been subjected to the continuous whimsical action of the cable network agency. The TRAI (Telecom Regulatory Authority of India) at that time framed rules in August 2019 to clearly mandate that TV consumers would be entitled to ‘choose their desired channels and have full right to control their monthly bills’. The consumers were also entitled to ‘adjust their pack at any time’. Sadly, the agency ACC (Axom Communications and Cable Pvt. Ltd.) paid no heed to the TRAI rules and instead offered its package of channels to consumers at a higher value. This manipulation of the agency denied the consumers their right to choose their desired channels and also forfeited their claim to control their monthly bills. In reality, consumers are currently paying double the amount they paid prior to the recharge plan. Besides, the option of adding a new channel outside of his package is very costly to a consumer, as he will have to book the whole package that includes the new channels at full cost. By blatantly flouting norms, the agency is carrying on an unauthorised collection of money by having recourse to malpractices against TV consumers.

Secondly, the caprice of ACC, the cable agency, knows no bounds. As a TV viewer, you have to waste an extra two minutes before the opening channel is available. In their parlance, it is called a landing page. In the name of the landing page, two national news channels are given extra commercial time, by which the agency actually earns extra revenue while being careless of customers’ interest and viewing time. Through these columns, I urge the relevant authorities to pay favourable attention to the injustice meted out to consumers by prohibiting the unfair practices of the cable agency.

Pannalal Dey,

Guwahati.

Fixing a minimum application fee

The promises made and their fulfilment with regard to the mass recruitment in the last two recruitment drives by the Government of Assam have acted as a beacon of hope for the unemployed youth of the state. Moreover, the upcoming third drive of recruitment with 22,000+ job opportunities is believed to help Assam relax from the clutches of unemployment for a long time. However, apart from a few government portals advertising different posts for recruitment with a bare minimum application fee, the on-going recruitment by the government and private colleges and universities has a different ongoing scenario with a very steep application fee, which is beyond the range to be considered the minimum for applying. Although, apart from a few government official posts, charging a standard application fee cumulatively considers all the categories (general, OBC, SC, and ST) and sometimes relaxes completely for the reserved categories and women, many of the government educational institutes abstain from granting concessions in their application fee even to the reserved category and women. Since the posts are meant for unemployed youth, therefore, an exorbitant application fee is meaningless as it deprives them of applying for the posts even though they match their eligibility criteria.

Anwesha Hazarika,

Tezpur, Assam.

Concerns regarding the water problem

I am writing to express my deep concern and frustration regarding the ongoing water problem that has plagued our area for far too long. As a resident of Kotahbari (Shanti Path), I believe it is essential to bring attention to this pressing issue that affects the daily lives of countless individuals and households.

In conclusion, I implore our local leaders to take immediate action to resolve the water problem in our community and to keep us informed every step of the way. Our voices matter, and together, we can make a difference in ensuring a better future for ourselves and future generations.

Mujahidul Islam,

RGU, Guwahati

Ganpati Bappa Morya

The festival of Ganesh Chaturthi is celebrated on a large scale in several parts of India. The history of the Sarvajanik Ganesh Chaturthi in Maharashtra is centuries old. It was started by the late Lokmanya Tilak.

According to Hindus, Ganesha is the remover of obstacles and all the problems in one’s life, as well as the creator of happiness in the life of people. People in India worship Ganesha before starting any new work. He is the eldest son of Shiva and Parvati and is one of the five major Hindu deities. With his pot belly and elephant head, he is the god who removes all obstacles in the paths of those struggling to achieve both spiritual and worldly success. Almost every Hindu home has an image of Lord Ganesha over the doorway, and he is worshipped at the beginning of every important undertaking, whether it is the building of a new house, the beginning of a marriage, or the opening of a new accounts book.

As per belief, Ganesha is also known as Vighnaharta or the one who removes all obstacles. He holds great significance in Hinduism where almost all rituals begin with his worship. Celebrations for this festival begin months in advance with the preparation of idols of Lord Ganesha. On the 10th and last day of the festival, the idol is immersed in a nearby river or pond with full devotion and this ceremony is called Ganesh Visarjan. People chant “Ganpati Bappa Morya, Purchya Varshi Laukariya”, which means “Goodbye Lord Ganesha, please come back next year.”

Jubel D’Cruz,

Mumbai