A Parliamentary panel has come down heavily on the Department of Telecom for not coming out with standards for mobile handsets till now even though there is massive expansion of mobile telephony.
"It is a matter of serious concern that, so far, no standards for mobile handsets have been prescribed in the country," Standing Committee on Information Technology said in its 13th report.
The committee, headed by BJP MP Anurag Thakur, said it is constrained to note that at a time when there is massive expansion of mobile telephony, only an amendment to the Indian Telegraph Act to give statutory backing to the standards developed for mobile handsets by Telecom Engineering Centre has been proposed by the Department.
The panel said issue for mobile handsets standards have become pressing not only because of existence of millions of users but also because of the apparent reluctance and resistance of reputed global manufacturers to adhere to the prescribed safety limit when it comes to supplying handsets in India.
The manufacturers scrupulously adhere to all safety standards when supplying the same to US, Japan and European countries, it said.
"While deploring the slow progress made in this regard, the committee urge the department to take all necessary steps in finalising and implementing the standards for mobile handsets without any further delay," it added.
Regarding EMF radiation, the panel said India-specific research research on the subject has become very important, mainly because the standards of radiation limit which the government have chosen to follow are based on researches conducted in western countries.
"...Some of the India-specific research carried out by eminent scientists and other governmental organisations, which have found adverse impact of EMF have not been taken into consideration by DoT," the panel said.
The committee emphasised that DoT should promote and encourage the research works being carried out in the country, including by providing appropriate budgetary support.
