The Aryavarth Express
Agency(New Delhi): The Department of Consumer Affairs (DoCA) has taken a significant step to curtail the persistent problem of pesky/promotional or unsolicited commercial calls plaguing consumers. A committee has been formed, featuring members from the cellular industry and regulatory bodies such as the Department of Telecommunication (DoT), the Department of Financial Services (DFS), and other concerned authorities.
Under the leadership of Shri Rohit Kumar Singh, Secretary of DoCA, a meeting was convened on February 14, 2024, to delve into the intrusive nature of these calls, which infringe upon consumer privacy and rights. The financial services and real estate sectors were identified as primary sources of such calls. It was also noted that spammers are increasingly using internet calls, especially via WhatsApp, to entice consumers with fraudulent schemes.
Past measures by the DoT and the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) were discussed, including advisories for telemarketers to register their entities and SMS templates on Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT) platforms, which aim to maintain transaction records and combat spam. TRAI’s new guidelines for the Bulk SMS Service Industry, employing DLT to enhance transparency, counter SMS spam, and protect consumers from deceptive practices, were highlighted.
The meeting recognized that although telemarketers are instructed to prefix their numbers with the 140 series to allow consumer identification, compliance among unregistered telemarketers remains an issue. The emphasis was on ensuring strict adherence to these provisions by all telemarketers.
Attendees included representatives from the DoT, TRAI, Cellular Operations Association of India (COAI), and key telecom players like Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL), Vodafone, Airtel, and Reliance.
The committee’s formation marks a proactive approach to reinforce consumer protection in telecommunications, with the goal of creating effective guidelines that safeguard consumer interests and promote a respectful communication environment.
