Fwd: Urgent Need for Low-Value Recharge Plans for Feature Phones in India
Helping Hands Foundation
From: Helping Hands Foundation <hhf...@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, Nov 25, 2024 at 4:09 PM
Subject: Re: Urgent Need for Low-Value Recharge Plans for Feature Phones in India
To: <moc-o...@gov.in>, <mosc-...@gov.in>, <office-...@nic.in>, <advi...@trai.gov.in>, <tr...@trai.gov.in>
GENTLE REMINDER
To
The Chairman,
Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI)
Mahanagar Doorsanchar Bhawan,
Jawaharlal Nehru Marg,
New Delhi – 110002
Cc:
The Secretary,
Department of Telecommunications (DoT)
Sanchar Bhawan,
20, Ashoka Road,
New Delhi – 110001
Subject: Reminder – Request for Affordable "Voice-Only" Recharge Plans for Feature Phone Users
Dear Sir/Madam,
We hope this message finds you well.
On behalf of The Helping Hands Foundation, we would like to remind you of our email dated 8.11.2024, wherein we raised an important concern regarding the absence of specific and affordable "voice-only" recharge plans for feature phone users in India. This issue is critical for low-income individuals who rely solely on basic mobile communication services and cannot afford combo recharge plans that include data they do not use.
It has been over two weeks since our initial communication, and we have not received a response or acknowledgment of our representation.
We kindly request that you review the matter urgently and take the necessary steps to address this gap in service affordability. Providing low-value recharge plans tailored specifically for voice calls would benefit millions of economically disadvantaged citizens.
Introducing such plans aligns with TRAI’s mission of ensuring accessible and equitable telecom services for all. We are confident that the Department of Telecommunications will also recognize the potential impact of this measure on promoting digital and social inclusion.
We look forward to your response as soon as possible and remain available for any further information or discussion on this matter.
Thank you for your attention and prompt action.
Warm regards,
Managing Director
Helping Hands Foundation
Respected Sir/Madam,Greetings to you from our Helping Hands.Please find herewith attached a representation on the subject matter and do the needful.We look forward to hearing from you soon.With Best Regards,Managing Director,Helping Hands Foundation.
Helping Hands Foundation
To
The Chairman,
Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI)
New Delhi
Subject: Second Reminder – Request for Affordable "Voice-Only" Recharge Plans for Feature Phone Users
Dear Sir/Madam,
This is our second reminder regarding our email dated 8.11.2024, followed by a gentle reminder dated 25.11.2024, in which we sought your urgent attention to the critical issue of introducing affordable "voice-only" recharge plans for feature phone users in India. Despite our previous communications, we regret to note that we have not received any response or acknowledgment from your esteemed offices.
The absence of low-value, "voice-only" recharge options disproportionately impacts low-income citizens who depend on feature phones for basic communication needs. These individuals are compelled to purchase combo recharge plans with unnecessary data services, further straining their limited financial resources.
We kindly urge you to treat this matter with the utmost priority, as addressing this gap will ensure equitable access to telecom services, fostering social and digital inclusion. Introducing affordable voice-only plans aligns with TRAI's mission and national objectives of promoting inclusive telecom policies.
We respectfully request an acknowledgment of our emails and an update on any actions initiated toward resolving this matter. Your intervention is crucial for bringing relief to millions of disadvantaged citizens who are awaiting a fair and accessible telecom solution.
We remain available to provide additional information or support required to advance this initiative.
We look forward to your early positive response.
Warm regards,
Managing Director
Helping Hands Foundation
Cc:
The Secretary,
Department of Telecommunications (DoT)
New Delhi
Helping Hands Foundation
Date: 30.12.2024
To
The Chairman,
Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI)
New Delhi
Cc:
The Secretary,
Department of Telecommunications (DoT)
New Delhi
Subject: Final Reminder – Request for Action Taken Report on "Voice-Only" Recharge Plans Representation
Dear Sir/Madam,
We are writing to draw your urgent attention to our correspondence regarding the pressing need for affordable "voice-only" recharge plans for feature phone users in India. We have previously reached out through:
1. Initial Representation: Dated 8.11.2024
2. First Reminder: Dated 25.11.2024
3. Second Reminder: Dated 15.12.2024
Regrettably, despite multiple communications, we have not received an acknowledgment or response from your esteemed office. This continuous silence and non-responsiveness is deeply concerning, given the significance of the issue and its direct impact on economically disadvantaged citizens who depend solely on voice communication for their daily needs.
We hereby request a detailed Action Taken Report on our representation and the subsequent reminders. If the issue has not been addressed yet, we urge you to initiate immediate steps to address the need for affordable "voice-only" recharge plans across telecom networks in India.
We must let you know that if no response or action is forthcoming, we will have to explore further courses of action to ensure that the needs of the underprivileged are adequately represented and addressed. This may include escalating the matter to higher authorities or bringing it to public attention through appropriate channels.
We hope such steps will not be necessary and trust that you will treat this final reminder with the urgency it deserves. Kindly acknowledge this communication and provide an update as soon as possible.
Thank you for your attention to this important matter.
Managing Director
Helping Hands Foundation
Helping Hands Foundation
Helping Hands Foundation
To: The Chairman, Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI),
New Delhi
Cc: The Secretary, Department of Telecommunications (DoT), New Delhi
Date: 28.10.25
Subject: Request for Affordable Short-Duration “Voice-Only” Recharge Plans for Feature Phone Users
Respected Sir/Madam,
Greetings from the Helping Hands Foundation (HHF).
At
the outset, we wish to express our sincere gratitude to the Telecom
Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) for its kind consideration of our
earlier representation and for issuing directives on affordable “voice-only”
recharge plans, as acknowledged in our letter dated 8.1.2025.
Your action was indeed a commendable step that greatly benefited millions of
low-income and rural citizens who rely on basic feature phones for their daily
communication needs.
However,
we have now received multiple representations from concerned citizens informing
us that, except for BSNL, other telecom operators such as Jio, Airtel,
and Vodafone-Idea are reportedly not offering short-duration
“voice-only” plans—specifically, 28-day or 66-day validity options.
As a result, economically weaker users are being compelled to purchase longer-duration
plans, which causes genuine financial hardship, particularly among
daily-wage earners, pensioners, and rural households.
In light of this, we humbly request the TRAI, under intimation to the Ministry of Telecommunications, to kindly:
1. Examine the present market scenario across all service providers regarding the availability of short-duration “voice-only” plans.
2. Direct all telecom operators to ensure that low-value recharge options (such as 28 or 66 days) are made available nationwide, similar to BSNL’s socially considerate plans.
3. Ensure uniform compliance so that poor and marginalized citizens are not deprived of affordable communication access.
4. Inform our Foundation about the action taken and the decisions made on this vital public issue.
We remain confident that the TRAI will once again uphold its vision of inclusive telecom access and address this matter with the urgency and compassion it deserves.
Thank you once again for your continued commitment to empowering every Indian through equitable telecom policies.
With warm regards,
Abdul Naseer
Managing Director
Helping Hands Foundation
Dear Chairman (TRAI),
On behalf of Helping Hands Foundation, I extend our heartfelt gratitude to the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) for considering our representation and issuing directives regarding affordable "voice-only" recharge plans.
Your proactive response to this critical issue will immensely benefit economically disadvantaged citizens, especially feature phone users, the elderly, and rural populations. The steps outlined in Press Release No. 96/2024 reflect TRAI's commitment to inclusive and equitable telecom services.
We are deeply appreciative of your efforts in recognizing and addressing this gap. Together, we have taken a meaningful step toward empowering millions.
Thank you once again for your prompt action. Please feel free to reach out if we can provide any further support or insights.
Warm regards,
Abdul Naseer
Managing Director
Helping Hands Foundation
---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Helping Hands Foundation <hhf...@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, Jan 8, 2025 at 4:31 PM
Subject: Re: Urgent Need for Low-Value Recharge Plans for Feature Phones in India
Helping Hands Foundation
To:
The Chairman, Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), New Delhi. tr...@trai.gov.in
Cc:
The Secretary, Department of Telecommunications (DoT), New Delhi. office-...@nic.in
Date: 13.11.2025
Subject: Gentle Reminder: Request for Update on Affordable Short-Duration “Voice-Only” Recharge Plans for Feature Phone Users
Respected Sir/Madam,
Greetings from the Helping Hands Foundation (HHF).
We are writing to gently follow up on our email dated 28.10.2025, regarding the need for affordable short-duration “voice-only” recharge plans for feature phone users across all telecom service providers.
As highlighted in our previous communication, while BSNL offers consumer-friendly 28-day and 66-day plans, the lack of similar low-cost, short-validity options from other major operators like Jio, Airtel, and Vodafone-Idea continues to pose a significant financial challenge for economically disadvantaged citizens, including daily-wage earners and the elderly.
This issue follows our earlier successful collaboration with TRAI, which we had gratefully acknowledged in our letter of 08.01.2025, following the regulatory intervention that initially promoted voice-only plans.
We kindly request an update on the action taken concerning our representation. A response from your esteemed office would be highly appreciated, as it would help us reassure the concerned citizens we represent that their plight is being addressed.
Thank you for your time and attention to this important matter. We remain hopeful for your positive and compassionate intervention.
Managing Director,
Helping Hands Foundation.