Imtinaro Longkumer
Just the third year to have cell phones in the state and look around today, one will find almost every person with a cell phone in hand. Not getting critical, but in fact it has served to have helped the people to be more convenient in ways of activities – may it be work, leisure or entertainment. New models of mobile phones and networking companies are making places all over the state, which not only makes the users to have better options of the facilities and choices, where on the contrary, it also has been helpful in providing employment in the business sectors.
Not certain of whether it is a competition, necessity or just a show to have one, almost everyone (have’s or the have-not’s) seems to own a cell phone, where the old land lines are now almost forgotten! Maybe not to all, but to some it has also become an embarrassing factor for not owning a cell phone, and especially many of the youngsters not knowing of their needs and the status of the family, are seen to demand their parents for having one, which results in unseen problems to the parents.
We talk of the helpfulness and necessity of having a cell phone but on its darker side people may not know or notice that it has been creating an intense effect on the poor PCO owners! The PCOs over the town are seen to be running but one will hardly find people going to make phone calls. Now, the PCO owners, instead of having an income from their booths, they are more likely to be making profits by selling recharge coupons for cell phones.
PCOs are not just opened up without a purpose. It is been run with a motive of having a business with profit. There are some which are being opened up for an extra income but most of it are run by youths to self employ themselves. Interacting with some of some of such entrepreneurs in town, they were of the opinion that the coming of mobile phones has highly affected their small business sector. Their business is becoming meaningless and non-profitable, for they have lesser callers, yet they have to pay up their bills and rentals for the shop.
The PCO owners however, don’t condemn the mobile phones and its users for they know its utility and as a matter of fact, they too carry along a cell with them. But with the diminishing income in their business, most of the PCO owners have in mind to close down the business. It pities for such entrepreneurs, but in such case it doesn’t mean that one should start making phone calls from the PCOs although not necessary. So with the fact known to all, those entrepreneurs solely depending on this business should also look out for other avenues to establish themselves and maintain a balance. The government on the other hand can also look on forward to set up un-manned/ coined phone booths in the town for helping those public who don’t have access to cell phones and other land line facilities.
