The union representing workers of India's state-run telco,
Bharat Sanchar Nigam (BSNL), has protested the government's decision to shut
down the country's 163-year old telegram service.The forum of BSNL unions and
association said the telegram service, which was switched off on July 15,
offered a viable alternative to the Internet, according to a report in The
Hindu. The union said in a statement that over 50,000 telegrams were booked and
delivered each month.V.A.N. Namboodiri, convenor of the forum, said telegrams
generated over US$167,000 (10 million rupees) for the telco at minimal
operational expense.
"No extra staff is employed... There is not a single
paise spent for the staff of telegram service alone," Namboodiri said.
"There is no extra maintenance charge, since it is part of the telecom
services. All the telegram service centers are in departmental buildings and no
rent is to be paid."He said the closure violated the Indian Telegraph Act
1885, which includes the provision of telegram services.India's
telecommunications ministry said it lost US$250 million in the last seven years
running the service, according to an NBC News report.Yesterday, hundreds of
Indians visited the country's 75 telegraph offices to send their last
telegrams.
