Letters to Editor - The Hindu BusinessLineSENSEX 81,785.74 -118.96NIFTY 25,069.20 -44.80CRUDEOIL 5,592.00+ 66.00GOLD 109,629.00+ 259.00SILVER 129,085.00+ 247.00SENSEX 81,785.74 -118.96NIFTY 25,069.20 -44.80NIFTY 25,069.20 -44.80CRUDEOIL 5,592.00+ 66.00CRUDEOIL 5,592.00+ 66.00GOLD 109,629.00+ 259.00'; } document.getElementById("lgdv").innerHTML = htmlElements; } function numberformat(i) { return Number(parseFloat(i).toFixed(2)).toLocaleString('en', { minimumFractionDigits: 2 }) } async function gatherResponse(response) { const { headers } = response; const contentType = headers.get('content-type') || ''; if (contentType.includes('application/json')) { return await response.json() } return response.text(); } function getWidth() { if (Math.max(document.body.scrollWidth,document.documentElement.scrollWidth,document.body.offsetWidth,document.documentElement.offsetWidth,document.documentElement.clientWidth) > 991) { document.getElementById("mob").style.display = "none"; document.getElementById("lgdv").style.display = "block"; } else { document.getElementById("mob").style.display = "block"; document.getElementById("lgdv").style.display = "none"; } } getWidth();]]>By George Verghese 4772Updated - September 15, 2025 at 08:58 PM.Telecom tariffsApropos, ‘The right call’ (September 15). Telecom service providers are slyly hiking tariffs by discontinuing lower-tier data plans and coercing users into higher-value options, thereby inflating Average Revenue Per User (ARPU) without direct, across-the-board increases. With the subscriber market stable, operators are less focused on new user acquisition and more on squeezing existing customers.In India, where the customer base is enormous and revenue streams already strong, these indirect hikes are unwarranted. The much-touted 5G rollout has failed to translate into wider coverage or better service quality.Adding insult, consumers often doubt the accuracy of data usage measurements, as they are pushed to purchase extra vouchers prematurely. In a digital-first economy, where internet connectivity is essential, such exploitative strategies are retrograde, burdensome, and deeply unjustified.N Sadhasiva ReddyBengaluruGraded pricingAt a time when the data usage is growing at a significantly high rate, with rural consumers primarily driving the growth, it would be unwise to apply breaks to such fast paced growth by resorting to another round of tariff hikes, as the tariffs were increased only last year. A large percentage of existing or potential consumers are price sensitive. Existing consumers may reduce the usage of data if tariffs go up further. Telecom companies may “adopt graded pricing” as suggested in the editorial or design innovative plans with more attractive bundled benefits to users to improve data usage.Kosaraju ChandramouliHyderabadCess woesThis refers to ‘Are cesses serving their intended purpose?’ (September 15). The government is prone to adding one cess after another in any sector it fancies. This weighs on an already higher consumer price base. Worse, some of the cesses collected lie unspent on the professed sectors for which they were collected. . When a new cess is levied, the government must present before Parliament the utilisation of previous cesses. This will at least ensure that every cess is meaningfully leveraged.R NarayananNavi MumbaiGST on medical aidsThe recent GST reform, which continues taxing medical aids, is a grave oversight in catering to the needs of differently-abled individuals. While luxury items see tax reductions, essential prosthetics and assistive devices are taxed at a high rate of 18 per cent. These individuals are already burdened by the high costs of healthcare and mobility aids. By maintaining such taxes, the government not only ignores their needs but also discourages their access to necessary treatments.Vijaykumar HKRaichur, KarnatakaPublished on September 15, 2025Sign into Unlock benefits!Access 10 free stories per monthAccess to comment on every storySign up/Manage to our newslettersGet notified by email for early preview to new features, discounts & offers${ ind + 1 } ${ device }Last active - ${ la }