Scope for misuse

Sir, - The off the cuff decision of the Communication Minister to provide free telephones to the 3.2 lakh employees of the Telecom Department is likely to trigger similar demands from the employees of other service sectors. Employees of the electricity boards will demand free electricity, oil sector employees free petrol and LPG connections, VSNL employees free Internet and allied facilities - the list will be endless. It will not be surprising if the employees of income tax and customs demand exemption from income tax and custom duty, eventhough they do not come under service sector. The government will find it difficult to resist such demands when once the pace is set.

At least a small section of the government employees are known to misuse their privileges to make a fast buck on the sly. It is common knowledge that some employees are letting their government accommodation to outsiders in metros and big cities. With the spectrum of privileges widening and the number of beneficiaries registering a quantum jump, the scope for misuse will increase enormously and the government will find it difficult to check this malfeasance. Even if it is only a fraction, the possibility of some of the employees trading their free phones, or operating a telephone booth from their homes as the calls from their free phones are not metered, cannot be ruled out. The government will do well to consider all these aspects before implementing the scheme.

M.K.B. Nambiar,

Palloor (Mahe)

Sir, - It is highly laudable that the Telecom Department has come out with a fine scheme of rental free telephone to all their permanent employees. Considering the various offers and concessional schemes available in different departments such as organised sectors offer of bulk/huge loan with a meagre interest, what the Telecom Department has proposed to do is an iota of concession which cannot be envied.

R. Madhavan,

Chennai

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