Complaints galore at BSNL customers' meet in Gowribidanur

It was interesting to note that though the customers who attended the meeting were less in number, however, the complaints filed by all of them were innumerable.

At the meeting, the consumers lamented that the mobile phones were not of any use to them since the network was never available. The calls made to others persons often got disconnected and whenever efforts are made to contact the other person, they were always greeted with the message - “out of reach.”

 If this was the case, then what was the use of having mobile phones, they questioned.
R Venkatesh from Ramakalahalli village said that the BSNL claimed that it stood for its services. However, a visit to the villages and one would find that the network did not exist there at all. Mobile phones belonging to the other companies functioned well, while the cellphones with BSNL connections did not have network.

Discouraged by this, most of the villagers in Gowribidanur taluk were now opting for simcards of other companies, he added.

And even when there are loyal customers who continue to stick on to the BSNL, come what may, the BSNL currencies are not available in the villages, he said.

Hosuru, Gedare, Nagaragere villages in the taluk do not have BSNL networks at all. Even in case of landline phones, if there are any complaints by the customers, they are not attended to immediately by the officers concerned. When the services are not up to the mark, then what was the use of opting for BSNL, some of the customers questioned in the meeting.

Addressing their grievances, General Manager of Kolar BSNL Nirmala explained that there were more than 7,000 BSNL customers in the taluk. Mobile towers had been installed at more than 18 places in the town. Every Gram Panchayat had been provided with broadband facility. All efforts are being made to address the problems of the customers, she said.

Senior officials Channakrishnappa, Yallappa, Assistant Engineer of the Centre Ramakrishnappa, Venu and several others were present at the meeting.