To blog ? or Not to ?

This is one worst experience I ever had as far as internet usage is concerned. I start using internet in 1998. I have experienced quality services in various countries and major cities of India. I lived in all metros and some major cities in India as part of my professional assignments.

BSNL, one of the leading player in Telecommunication, and Public Service Undertaking (PSU), one expect better services, or they should provide services better than any private operators. There is no lack in investment, they are upgrading technologies day by day and launch product and services to compete with Private players.

But what is the reality, they are losing subscribers every month. They plan some massive campaign to attract new customers.

I appreciate them for providing services in the rural area, even though the profitability is less. They should do since it is PSU.

They need to improve their services as a whole. I have taken BSNL broadband connection on 15^th October 2009. It is more than 100 days. During this period if calculate the connectivity percentage it is just 89.5 %. That means in a year almost 40 days you will sit without internet connectivity.

If you wish to register a complaint by 1500 you will hear that ‘due to some technical difficulties we are unable to provide this service, or there is no record for this number.’ Sometimes you may not get this number; you will hear a damaged tone or engaged. Experience with the other number 12678 is not different. You will get continues engaged tone. They are providing services on weekdays only, if anything happens on Saturday, till Monday evening you will not have internet connectivity. They say in the website that the customer service is available throughout weekdays from 8 AM to 8 PM. But I never have seen them before and after 5, you will get continues engaged tone or error tone.

Even if you get a customer service representative, the attitude is different, they don’t even speak properly, sometimes they order, do this, that etc. Irresponsible and adamant; they think without even a single customer they will get their payment, even if they do not work they will get payment they why should we take the trouble. Nobody is there to take action, if anybody try to take action they a very powerful weapon ‘strike’

They need to wake up, should customer friendly and service oriented. I am sure, if private players come to rural area then BSNL will lose its market share rapidly. This could be one reason in which government not asking private players to offer service in the rural area.

India, fastest growing economy, the IT hub of the world, 60-70% of India, the rural India is neglected. To what extend metro cities and other major cities can afford the needs? Rest of India should be treated equally. So, private players too should take initiative and offer services in Rural India.

सारे जहाँ से अच्छा हिन्दोस्तान हमारा
हम बुलबुले है इसकी ये गुलसिता हमारा ॥धृ॥

घुर्बत मे हो अगर हम रहता है दिल वतन मे
समझो वही हमे भी दिल है जहाँ हमारा ॥१॥

परबत वो सब से ऊंचा हमसाय आसमाँ का
वो संतरी हमारा वो पासबा हमारा ।२॥

गोदी मे खेलती है इसकी हजारो नदिया
गुलशन है जिनके दम से रश्क-ए-जना हमारा ।३॥

ए अब रौद गंगा वो दिन है याद तुझको
उतर तेरे किनारे जब कारवाँ हमारा ॥४॥

मझहब नही सिखाता आपस मे बैर रखना
हिन्दवी है हम वतन है हिन्दोस्तान हमारा ॥५॥

युनान-ओ-मिस्र-ओ-रोमा सब मिल गये जहाँ से
अब तक मगर है बांकी नामो-निशान हमारा ॥६॥

कुछ बात है की हस्ती मिटती नही हमारी
सदियो रहा है दुश्मन दौर-ए-जमान हमारा ॥७॥

इक़्बाल कोइ मेहरम अपना नही जहाँ मे
मालूम क्या किसी को दर्द-ए-निहा हमारा ॥८॥

Transliteration:

sāre jahān se acchā hindostān hamārā
ham bulbulain hai is ki, yeh gulsitān hamārā

ghurbat men hon agar ham, rahta hai dil vatan men
samjho vahīn hamen bhī, dil hain jahān hamārā

parbat voh sab se ūnchā, hamsāya āsmān ka
voh santari hamārā, voh pāsbān hamārā

godi men kheltī hain is ki hazāron nadiyā
gulshan hai jin ke dam se, rashk-e-janān hamārā

aye āb, raud, ganga, voh din hen yād tujhko
utarā tere kināre, jab kārvān hamārā

maz’hab nahīn sikhātā āpas men bayr rakhnā
hindvi hai ham, vatan hai hindostān hamārā

yūnān-o-misr-o-romā, sab miṭ gaye jahān se
ab tak magar hai bāqi, nām-o-nishān hamārā

kuch bāt hai keh hastī, miṭati nahīn hamārī
sadiyon rahā hai dushman, daur-e-zamān hamārā

iqbal ko’ī meharam, apnā nahīn jahān men
m’alūm kya kisī ko, dard-e-nihān hamārā

Translation

Better than the entire world, is our Hindustan;
we are its nightingales of mirth, and it is our garden abode

Though in foreign lands we may reside, with our homeland our hearts abide,
Regard us also to be there, where exist our hearts

That mountain most high, neighbor to the skies;
it is our sentinel; it is our protector

In the lap of whose, play thousands of rivers;
gardens they sustain; the envy-of-the-heavens of ours

O waters of the Ganga mighty, do you recall the day
when on your banks, did land the caravan of ours

Religion does not teach us to harbour grudges between us
Indians we all are; India, our motherland

While Greece, Egypt , Rome have all been wiped out
till now yet remains, this civilization of ours {it has stood the test of time}

Something there is that keeps us,our entity from being eroded
For ages has been our enemy, the way of the world

Iqbal! Is there no soul that could
understand the pain in thy heart?

गणतंत्र दिवस पर आप सभी को शुभकामनाएं

Happy Republic Day

If you are using www. awsurveys.com, please do not waste your time, they will not pay you. I have collected some information about the company and reported to FBI, Florida & Ocoee Police department and Internet Fraud Investigation Department, United States of America

Website: www.awsurveys.com

Parent Company: Aclarn Inc (As per the domain registration information provided)

Address:        Aclarn Inc.

P.O.Box 428

Ocoee, Florida 34761

United States

3214384254

Admin Contact:  Seebeck, Adam    admin@aclarninc.com, admin@awsurveys.com

Activities: Free Survey, They are offering free surveys and offer US$ 1 per survey, after initial surveys and for referral US$ 1.25.

I have registered with the site about 9 months back and 2 times my account balance reached above US$ 75, which is the least amount could redeem. I have opted to redeem twice. Both the occasion they did not respond within the specified time in which the fund suppose to reach in my paypal account. I have posted a support ticket, soon after posting a support ticket they removed the balance and made it 63.

I have sent so many mails to get referrals in the last 9 months and the conversion was too less and ultimately I got US$ 75. But they did not give me that fund.

Now, I believe they are cheating people. I trusted them because of following

• They offer survey to evaluate some website. These websites might be paying them for the traffic generated.

• There were some leading sites which offer paid surveys.

• They could earn money from websites offering website promotion as well as SEO because every time a person take survey a website been evaluated that means a request goes to that site thus traffic generated.

Since they are not paying there could be many reasons.

• The company might have stopped surveys, because in the recent surveys I could see only their associate website. If so they should inform the members. But still they are offering a monthly draw of US$ 500 and publish the winners. No idea whether the payment is made or not.

• Regarding account management, they could check before updating an account. They have mentioned many things in the Terms of Services. They should have a system to identify the person referred have taken survey or not. If they have a system to identify fake referrals, it should be done before updating a member’s account. Since they remove fund once ask for redeem there is something wrong with the company.

• Even if it is a fake entry company is benefitted.  They pay initially US$ 27 once an account is created for that, a member need to take 7 surveys and every month member get 1 survey each and rest a member need to make from referrals to reach US$ 75 which is the minimum amount could be redeemed.  Out of this US$ 75 they deduct US$ 25 for fast withdrawal. That means the amount they pay initially taken back at the end and the work done is not given any value. This is one way of cheating.

• A member need to send large quantity of mails for referrals, he/she need 39 people to be joined as his/her referral to reach US$ 75. Once they reach in US$ 50 and US$ 60 they get aggressive and go for massive campaign. But this will never give any result. One of my friends given me his login details of this site, when I checked his account has US$ 130 and he did not get that fund in his paypal account. Even after submitting support tickets repeatedly there is no reply from them. In my case I have written to all their contacts. But no reply.

• If they are not wrong in account calculation and reduction of funds from a particular account why don’t they answer to queries asked by a member?

Considering all the facts it is learned that they are trying to fool people around. I have taken enough pain to market them and I get mail frequently from people asking to register with this site; that means many people are working.

So it is an advice to all people those who wish to make some extra money from internet, please do not waste your time. They will not pay you. If anyone got money from this website please inform me.

Read the review in MouthShut.com

Recently I have read an article in a local news paper that a person presented a wreath to Post office for not delivering articles to his address.

I face the same problem. 2 months back a post man came to my home with a registered article and he said, ‘this is the last time, will not bring any article in future, you do not come under this post office’. I have told him will check the matter with concerned authorities.

I live in Azhakam Area of Mookkanuur Village, Ernakulam District, Kerala State. I am living in the same house since my birth. My father constructed this house about 58 years back.  My father has 3 brothers, except one all are in the same area with different house. His father bought this land, years back, more than 100 years back. And we used to live here.

We used getting letters from Azhakam Post office (683577), and how can the post man suddenly take a decision and ask me to move to another post office, Karukutty (683576). Now, Azhakam post office is about 1 KM away from my residence and Karukutty post office is almost 3 KMs away from my residence. I have consulted the post master at Angamaly post, he said postman have no authority in asking to move to another post office. If he has some problem in delivering letters or the residence comes under another post office he should inform the department and department will have an enquiry and give statement. This statement can be produced the proposed post office and they will deliver article. He also mentioned that during these years I was able to receive article, then the same post office will deliver, and there is no need to change.

One should understand it is not easy to change a postal address in every document, like it is mentioned in ration card, bank account, certificates etc. And it will be difficult to change in all areas unnecessarily.

I have written to all the available contacts including Chief Post Master General, Kerala, officers in Delhi, and in the Public Grievance System on 19^th November 2009

After writing complaints, I got a mail from SSP Aluva Division, that this matter is under investigation and action will be taken. That’s it. Till today, there is no action. When I checked, public grievance system, it is noticed that the complaint been forwarded to Assistant Director PG, Office of the Postmaster General, Central Region, Kochi on 18/01/2010 it is more than 2 months.  Now it is a practice to lodge complaint every month in Indian Post’s Web Based Customer Grievance Handling System

If anybody wants to see a complaint status, use this link: http://www.indiapost.gov.in/ccc/PCStatus.aspx and complaint number:  100000-77299, 100000-82550

Now, some facts,

• Normally people does not use postal department today, as it was used some years back. I have 2 brothers in Dubai and 1 sister in Mumbai. I was in Bangalore and Mumbai for a long period. We used to send letters, now there is no letters everything in email, telephone, chat etc. Now, we depend postal department on some important communications only. So work load is less compared to some years back.

• They do not have a proper delivery management system for ordinary post; they should understand for ordinary post too, we are paying.

• They should improve the quality of services at par with international standards. Otherwise there is no existence in this highly competitive world. Private courier companies give better service; they have better tracking system, complaint redressal system etc.

We suffer, just because it is in the public sector… I doubt about the future of this department.

Read my review in MouthShut

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This article has the reference to my earlier article http://j-k.in/blog/2010/01/worst-experience-with-www-desiwebhosting-com-part-of-host-ac-please-do-not-opt/

In that I have mentioned there were no response for a long time from this hosting provider (http://www.desiwebhosting.com/part of host.ac ) Ultimately I got a response in the next day with the details of hosting account. I have tried to verify everything after uploading all the files and creating email accounts. I had the following problems even after 3 days.

• I was unable to send or receive email
• I was unable to create a database.

I have contacted the so called ‘24/7 technical support’ team. I got a reply after 7 hours, saying there is a problem with account. Do you think this is a 24/7 support?  At least they could send a reply soon after the receipt of my mail saying they are investigating. But they did not do. And even after 22 hours there were no results, solutions.

I have asked them to refund as per their policy, but there were no response. I have collected all the information about the company and even made a call to their office. But I got information that they have shifted to Delhi.

In between I have contacted the Cyber Crime Cell Kerala and enquired about the possibilities of filing a case against them. Since I have made payment through online banking, it is assured that they have an office in India. Cyber Cell advised me to file a cheating case.

I have mailed them asking for an amicable settlement, I have sent this mail to all their contacts, which they provided with CC Avenue and other companies whom they deal with. Immediately I got a mail saying your account is terminated reason “Fraud Customer”. I got a mail from CC Avenue too saying the refund process initiated.

So now everyone has to think, who is fraud? The company who says there is 24/7 technical support and my issue were answered without a solution after 7 hours or me? The company says 100% satisfaction in their website and this is the service they provide, and I asked for a refund, so they made me ‘fraud’. Am I really fraud here?

I have found an excellent hosting service provider. I suggest to use hostso

Had a very worse experience with http://www.desiwebhosting.com, I have reached there through host.ac, and they were good in service when I had opted 3 years back and thought http://www.desiwebhosting.com will be a part of host.ac. Now I am not sure whether they are part of host.ac or not.

I have ordered a hosting pack on Thursday 7^th January 2010 in the morning time and at 12:35 PM (my mail mentions this time) I have sent them a mail asking whether they receive my payment. I have made payment through online banking and given my reference number too. The amount been debited from my account to Avenues India Pvt Ltd. I have paid Rs. 600.

They sent me a reply on Thu, Jan 7, 2010 at 8:16 PM asking just ‘What is the order id?’ this is the entire matter in the mail. No courtesy, nothing. I did not see any standard in their mail. I am opting a service from them and paying them, they should respect the money I spent.

I have replied with my Order id at Thu, Jan 7, 2010 at 8:26 PM till now (Fri, Jan 8, 2010 at 5:25 AM) there is no reply from them.

In between I have tried to contact CC Avenue about this, and even my bank. I do not think I will get my money back from these people.

This is not the way to deal with a customer who is looking for a service; it was my mistake that I thought they will offer better service. They mention so many things in their package even 24/7 support. I doubt whether they provide it or not.

I have visited their website, to understand them better, there is no contact details of this company, tried to fetch it from ‘who is’ but it was protected. There is no phone number provided. There is no credible information provided. They might have vanished with my money.

So I suggest people not to opt them for hosting service, I lost Rs.600 and enquire before you opt a service from any hosting provider. Whether they have credible information in their website, whether they provide chat in their site etc, and should try some review sites like mouthshut.com to read some reviews.  (I used to do these, since I had opted services from host.ac I thought it will be better after 3 years, never thought that company is growing downwards and it is my mistake that I trusted them)

So, friends don’t allow them to cheat yet another, so beware, say ‘no’ to http://www.desiwebhosting.com and host.ac

Posted this in mouthshut.com too: http://www.mouthshut.com/review/General_Advice_on_Web_Hosting_Companies-183673-1.html

I have found an excellent hosting service provider. I suggest to use hostso

This is the second day of private bus operators strike in Kerala demanding for fare hike. As private buses are the main Public Transport System in Kerala, it is a challenge to common man.

It is obviously a war between the organized and unorganized, common man cannot be organized that is why the organize always win. Most of the times, government agree the demands and strike ends.

There is ESMA (Essential Service Maintenance Act) in this country, transportation is an essential service and government should make it sure that public transport system function properly and take stringent action if any violates.

There is no justification on private bus operators strike, they should look at the neighbouring state Tamil Nadu, the minimum fare there, and they should have a comparison and ask for something.

They always talk about student concession, they should provide it for that they are permitted and government collecting lesser tax from them.

This is a state of strike, strike for everything, and we call it ‘Gods Own Country’.

Government should not increase fare at this stage, should provide alternatives, and impose ESMA.

Click here to  view  in actual pixels

I have created this card to show one of the best love statements, in fact it is the best written by a poet. It is in Malayalam (People those who cannot read Malayalam please excuse me). This is from a hit movie ‘Mukundetta Sumitra Vilikkunnu’ released in 1988.

The credentials;

Director:  Priyadarshan

Story: Sreenivasan

Lyricist: Shibu Chakravarthi

Music Director:  Ouseppachan

Actors:  Mohanlal, Sreenivasan, Jagathy Sreekumar, Innocent, Renjini

Credit: http://www.malayalasangeetham.info/mmdb/2023.html

Business through portals and website is the latest and fastest growing business method thus, so many are attracted to this medium. In the recent years we have seen rapid growth in this area.

I have seen, so many come to this business and drop after a year or so, I had lot of experience with these entrepreneurs, would like to share some.

1)      3 years back, I got a client from USA asked me to develop a portal to deal with electronic items; he came with lot of ideas and had popular sites as reference. I have given him a quote of US$ 35000 with 90 days time line. He accepted and started the project and as per time line we delivered the portal. He managed the portal for 1 year and now he is not with that business. 

2)      2 years back, one of my friends asked me to develop a portal to manage Automobiles, especially to deal with Indian market. I have developed according to his plan and he was with that for a year, unfortunately he could not succeed with this business and dropped.

When I analyse these two projects, it was a very good project as far as technical feasibility is concerned. We have taken all precautionary measures to have successful running of these portals. But why they had to drop it?

1)      First of all, both of them entered into this venture without having a proper market analysis, feasibility study etc. They have seen someone making profit out of it and thought they could also make huge profit. 

2)      They did not have proper budget to develop and market the portal.

 3)      Marketing strategies were weak so could not get much business.

4)      Did not stick with the minimum requirement, they wanted to develop the most advanced and leading sites clone; so, had to invest more. 

What we could learn from these examples;

Those who wish to enter into web/portal business should have the following;

1)      Have proper Business analysis, market study, feasibility study etc.

2)      Should have the best and innovative marketing strategies and budgetary support to it.

3)      Do not try to clone major sites with all the features they have. Should understand that the popular and most leading sites have started years back and upgraded. So be with most essential features. (Recently a client asked me to develop a clone of http://www.bharatmatrimony.com/, I have given him a quote, after seeing the quote he said will drop the idea and now doing a site with essential features )

4)      Should have a long running business plan as far as revenue is concerned, do not go with short run.

Since, online marketing is the future, we should have proper planning, analysis, budget etc, because you are in a highly competitive field and it is important to give an impact.