[amdavadis4ever] Free basics-Facebook for India

 

Free basics-Facebook for India Please see the news regarding Facebook offer of free basic access to internet in India. When the offer was made there were no rules or regulations in that regard. However we must not underestimate the genius of bureaucracy in India . Instead of mere yes or no, immediately it appears they all went into a huddle. And then came up with rules and regulations which you can see on the net in typical bureaucratese rather hard to fathom for common folk.  The upshot of all the confabulations of TRAI-Telecom regulatory authority of India -  and essence of regulations that got evolved on priority basis of course is - Facebook offer is rejected. Facebook CEO, Mr. Zuckerberg was surprised saying 'how anyone can reject the (Free) offer ?'  Obviously he underestimated bureaucracy in India.  Also   this is clearly a set back to Narendra Modi's effort to bring Digital India, an interconnected India.  It is hard of find information about TRAI on the net, as to who runs it and who the chief and members are and whether the same set was operative during 2G scandal  that rocked UPA reign.  As you know 2G did not take place overnight but evolved over months , yet we never heard about same vigilance displayed to rescue unsuspecting public and save public exchequer some billions of dollars, yes dollars not mere rupees, coming from TRAI, if indeed it existed then also. It took public spirited individuals like Dr. Subramanyan Swamy to expose the murky corruption .  In contrast when some thing free is offered , when there is  not even a whiff of corruption involved the Facebook offer stands unceremoniously rejected. Now the charge is Facebook cannot offer just some basics but should provide access all other services as well- is untenable.  This is rather strange.  If you want to donate some thing free, you are not required to fork out few more expensive items also. If there are competitors let them also provide basics and more .  This is not just one opinion. Actually it appears there were 13+ millions who feel the TRAI decision as unfair and said so about it in their E Mails. However the Telecom authority blocked those E Mails. This is another strange thing, since when world's largest democracy chose to follow People's Republic of China , world's largest autocracy ? We are made to understand since TRAI is independent standing authority GOI will not be able to advance its agenda of Digital India in this regard over its objections. But then what ever happened to Supreme Court ? Surely TRAI cannot be superior to Constitution , a privilege reserved only for secular vote banks as you know - when there is a clash between Constitution vs Vote banks, Constitution gets amended. May be one of those public spirited 13+million could bring PIL and see what Supreme Court says.    Best wishes, G V Chelvapilla =====================================================================

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Posted by: chelvapila@aol.com

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