Sanchar Saathi App Controversy Explained: Govt Kyun Push Kar Rahi Hai Ye Tool? Kaise Kaam Karta Hai & Users Kyu Pareshan Hain
Department of Telecommunications (DoT) ne recently ek bada decision liya hai—ab har smartphone brand ko Sanchar Saathi app pre-install karna hoga. Matlab, India me bechne ke liye jo bhi phone banega ya import hoga, usme pehle se hi ye app hoga. Purane phones me bhi software update ke through iska rollout compulsory hoga. Companies ko 90 din diye gaye hain isko implement karne ke liye aur 120 din compliance report submit karne ke liye.
Is announcement ne social media, politicians, civil society aur aam users ke beech kaafi heated debate shuru kar di hai. Agar aap bhi confused ho ki pura issue kya hai, govt kya keh rahi hai, app kaise kaam karta hai aur logyon ko kya darr lag raha hai—yeh simple explanation aapke liye hai.
Govt Kya Keh Rahi Hai?
Ministry of Communications ke press note ke according:
Sanchar Saathi ko har phone me pre-install karna zaroori hai taki log fake ya non-genuine phones na kharidein, telecom misuse report karna aasaan ho jaye aur overall safety badh sake.
Govt kehta hai ki ye app mobile handset ki genuineness verify karne aur fraud rokne me madad karega.
Govt Sanchar Saathi Ko Itna Push Kyu Kar Rahi Hai?
Sanchar Saathi platform 2023 me launch hua tha aur iska main purpose tha:
IMEI tampering rokna
Phone theft control karna
Fake SIM aur telecom fraud reduce karna
Govt ka kehna hai ki app se users apna phone genuine hai ya nahi check kar sakte hain, lost phone ko instantly block kara sakte hain, aur apne naam par chal rahe fraud SIMs ko identify karke band kara sakte hain.
DoT Ke Latest Order Ka Matlab Kya Hai?
Govt ka direction clear hai:
Har phone me Sanchar Saathi pre-installed hoga
App first setup par hi visible hoga
Manufacturers isko disable ya hide nahi kar sakte
Apple, Samsung, Xiaomi, Vivo sabko 90 din me rollout complete karna hai
Govt ka kehna hai ki ye step users ko fraud se bachane ke liye zaroori hai.
Sanchar Saathi App Kya-Kya Kar Sakta Hai?
Govt app ko ek safety tool batati hai. Ye app:
Lost/Stolen phones ko all networks par block kar sakta hai
Phone ka IMEI genuine hai ya nahi verify karta hai
Aapke naam par kitne SIM chal rahe hain dikha sakta hai
Fake SIMs aur suspicious connections ko detect karta hai
Telecom fraud ya suspicious calls report karne me help karta hai
CEIR database se stolen phones ko trace karne me madad karta hai
Sanchar Saathi App Ka Kaam Kaise Hota Hai?
App phone ke IMEI ko CEIR (Central Equipment Identity Register) se link karta hai. Agar koi phone chori ho jaye ya kho jaye:
User app se report karta hai
CEIR IMEI ko all telecom networks par block kar deta hai
Phone kisi bhi SIM ke saath kaam nahi karega
App IMEI tampering detect karta hai aur fraud SIM ko identify karta hai.
Sabse Bada Issue: Privacy Concerns
Yahin se controversy shuru hoti hai. App kuch permissions maangta hai jise users risky maan rahe hain, jaise:
iPhone par:
Camera
Photos
Files
Android par:
Call logs
SMS send/receive
Call management
Camera + Storage
Network info
Critics ka kehna hai ki mandatory karke users ke personal data par govt ki zyada visibility ho sakti hai.
Govt ne clarification diya:
App ko delete karna allowed hai
Register na karo to inactive rahega
Automatic personal data collection nahi hoti
Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia ne kaha:
“Agar delete karna hai, delete kar do. Agar use nahi karna hai, toh register mat karo.”
Lekin despite govt clarification, privacy experts aur opposition abhi bhi skeptical hain.
Govt Ke Numbers Kya Kehte Hain?
Govt claim karti hai ki:
Sanchar Saathi ke 10 million+ downloads ho chuke hain
4.2 million stolen/lost phones block kiye gaye
30 million fake SIMs identify karke band kiye gaye
Apple reportedly is mandate ko lekar privacy aur security concern raise kar chuka hai.
Aapke Liye Iska Matlab Kya Hai?
Naye phones me app pehle se hoga
Purane phones me update ke through aa sakta hai
Use karna/resgister karna optional hai
App helpful ho sakta hai agar phone chori ho jaye
Rollout next few months me sab brands complete karenge
Users ko chinta mainly privacy aur mandatory installation ko lekar hai.
