Re-verification of pre-paid mobile users in NE in disarray

Guwahati, Jan 18 (PTI) With hardly a day left forcompletion of re-verfication of pre-paid mobile connectionsunder the guidelines of the Department of Telecommunication,nearly 80 per cent of the 1.65 crore users in Assam and theNorth East have a possibility of losing connectivity.

"We had almost completed the re-verification processwithin the last date of December 31, when a fresh directivecame from the ministry about the acceptability of documents asper the guidelines followed in Jammu and Kashmir," aspokesperson of a leading service provider said.

A survey by the service provider here found that withthe last date tomorrow for re-verification, only a few mobileusers have submitted the required documents.

The documents required are driving licence, pan card,arms licence, passbook of post offices or banks together withphotograph and address and passport.

Most of the permissible documents are difficult toprocure particularly for those residing in rural areas, whilevoters have not been issued voters I-card in the region after2008.

For students the mandatory documents will be acertificate by government educational institutions whichwill deprive thousands of students studying in the privatesector from having a mobile connection. .