Kedi Haralu
I am glad that I have had a huge response on the article on telecom, both in the positive sense or negative, but as a citizen plus the Press Secretary to MP (Lok Sabha) and also working for the MP (Rajya Sabha) part time, it is my bounded duty to highlight certain issues, since the MP (LS) is also the Chairman (by virtue of Post) for the benefit of the Naga public. Many individuals and organization has appealed in the Local English Dailies in the form of “open letters” or submitting memorandums. This is what the freedom of Speech means, living in the world’s largest democratic country. It does leaves a bad taste, on different parties and officers, which eventually festers, ultimately it ends, hurting sentiments that eventually leads one to a point of no return.
But what I do not come across in the Local Dailies on the achievements and development in the communication sector, which is very unfortunate. This is a sad thing, since for the development of Nagaland; we need to not only the negative but also an equal measure of positiveness. After meeting the GM TD (BSNL) personally at his office chamber, I started to realize the pros and con of the Department, plus the pressure from certain Organizations the department has to face nearly every day. Being posted in Nagaland, most former GM’s and CGM’s had left their posting and asked for a transfer, for as most will say, that, it is a punishment posting. This is one thing Nagas should prove wrong by being accommodating and understanding the Department. If we start to change our attitude toward the Telecom Department, it will be a positive step, and the rest can follow.
I can confidently say that amongst all Central Departments in the State, Telecom has done and is doing the most. I remember when I was younger, the problems we faced due to lack of communication (I am certain that those reading this will agree with me), but now I can keep in touch with every nook and corner of the State and even the Nagaland Government owes the Department for making it possible to keep the District Headquarters by Tele-Communication. One biggest achievement which was just a dream a few years back is the introduction of the Cellular Mobile Network and the Broad Band. As a writer I can now send all my articles and latest news (with photo’s) to anywhere in the country, especially Kolkota and New Delhi, where one had to give their immediate report by Phone plus articles. Pond photograph had to be couriered, which some times never reached the Offices of National papers and magazines, but now life has become like “fast food service” at Pizza Hut or MacDonald. As the years seem to be going at such a fast pace, so is the Telecom Department.
Another significant success of the department is the setting up Mobile Towers all over the State, regardless the Urban or Rural area. Who would think that my village which is completely cut off sometimes during the monsoon season now has a Tower of their own. It was like the Second Coming of Christ, for most of the villagers, similarly other villages which had been cut off due to lack of Communication has now the WLL Connection and most have their own Mobile Towers. I am surprised that these things are never mentioned in the Dailies, but just complaints against the Department. It may be hard to swallow for some, but I am a person that does not feel any bit smaller if I write articles against anybody or any Department, I have the stomach to accept and apologize, for it is only then ones credibility is ascertained, thus gaining the friendship and good will of the person or the department. As it is a fact that “to err is human” we all make mistakes, but those that forges ahead is the one who has the capability to point out whether it is black or white. This is one quality which we unfortunately lack, thus the Central Departments Officers prefer to be posted out rather then continue here, in Nagaland, where criticism is a major problem. As said earlier, we need to change this habit, so that the Department can do their job without any hindrance or opposition, and I am sure that when their tenure is over in Nagaland, they will go back with happy memories and a sense of pride, for their contribution to the Development of the State. Once this message gets to other Officers in the Central Departments, most will opt for Nagaland, and never a bane or bad luck. It is our duty as intellectuals to convince and highlight the numerous achievements to the other Nagas, who have a bad image of the Department. I can also confidently say that most of the individual and Organizations in Nagaland do not have a clue on what the Telecom Department is doing and what their visions and targets are, but due to the continuous barrage of unnecessary publications, they start to look at the Department from a negative point of view.
One thing I do not understand is the anti social elements stealing Cable Lines, affecting one and all so as to sell at a throwaway price. If they are locals - will they not suffer along with the rest of the public? If they are small time crooks, why does the public not react if they are eye witnesses? The biggest question is who buy’s these things? Are they not creating opportunities for such thieves? One last question is has the contractor laying cables dug deep enough? The only way to discourage cable theft is to make the hole much deeper, so that it would be too cumbersome a task to dig up the cables. In conclusion, one significant breakthrough is the OFC cabling all over the state, for overhead cables wee usually prone to damage, either the pole or the overhead cable. Another thing which will benefit both the department as well as the public if a “Complaint’s Cell” is set up so as to answer to all queries and complaints of the consumers. My final word today is “let us give due where it is due” and thus enhancing our credibility and also the Departments ability and accountability can be enhanced. It is always good to keep relations alive and not start to begin a campaign plus improve the huge gap between the various parties with the spirit of good wills prevailing.
