'Mobiles bring security to children; Tata official

Bangalore, Sep 13 (UNI) Sending children to school with mobile phones reduces threat perception opined, Mr Manzoor Ameen, Operating Officer, Karnataka circle Tata Teleservices Ltd,today.

Speaking to newspersons after launching the country's first Mobile Web Browser in association with Samsung India here, he was reacting to the Karnataka Government's decision to ban the use of cell phones in the premises of educational institutions up to pre-university level.

He said school children using cell phones would provide some relief to the parents as it is a good safety measure. ''My six-year-old daughter carries a cell phone to school and it reduces my concern over her safety,'' he added.

Referring to the alleged health hazards to children due to prolonged use of mobile phones, Mr Ameen said that ''there was no established feedback on the said health hazard''.

It may be recalled that the Karnataka Government had decided to instruct cell phone companies not to sell mobile phones to children below the age group of 16.

To another question, Mr Ameen clarified that his company which believed in the practice of high standard of principles never resorted to any kind of tax evasion.

Leader of the Opposition in the Karnataka Legislative Council H K Patil had alleged that many telecom companies in the state were evading sales tax, which amounted to revenue loss of hundreds of crores to the state exchequer. Mr Patil also petitioned President Pratibha Patil on the issue recently.

UNI