The following is the draft appeal the CHQ prepared in 2011 and circulated to branches for printing and circulating to the common public. After the discussion, the closure of 9797 post offices was stopped. RMS merger halted. Restored the abolished soring postman to the extent of more than 5500 posts. Mckensey was dropped in the postal. This is in the history. The model pamphlet circulated then is reproduced hereunder for the consumption of our blog viewers.
SAVE INDIAN POSTAL SERVICES
An Appeal to the Public and Customers
1. Indian Postal Services: A Heritage Under Threat
For over 150 years, India Post has been the backbone of communication, delivering across the length and breadth of the country. With over 1,55,000 post offices, 392 Railway Mail Service offices, and 27 Mail Motor Services, India Post is the largest postal network in the world. Beyond delivering letters, parcels, and registered articles, it also handles Speed Post, Business Post, newspapers, and periodicals. Furthermore, it operates the country's largest savings bank and provides Postal Life Insurance services, including Rural Postal Life Insurance. Nearly 500,000 employees, including 300,000 Gramin Dak Sevaks working in rural areas, keep this vital network running.
2. Privatization Looms: A Threat to Public Services
Unfortunately, the future of this iconic institution is at risk. The government is moving toward corporatizing and privatizing India Post through the “Post Office and Courier Services Bill,” currently being introduced in Parliament. Once passed, this bill will end the monopoly of India Post, opening the door for private and foreign courier companies to compete on equal terms. Corporatization is the first step toward full privatization, and once this happens, the invaluable public service of India Post will be compromised.
3. The Impact of ‘Optimization’
Following recommendations from multinational consultancy firm McKinsey, the government is implementing drastic measures under the guise of "optimization." Nearly 35% of urban post offices (9,797 in total) are slated for closure, giving private couriers more room to expand their businesses. Additionally, town sub-post office delivery services will be centralized to main post offices, leading to delays in mail delivery and driving customers toward private alternatives. Hundreds of sorting postman positions have already been abolished, further diminishing delivery efficiency.
4. Inefficient Hub Systems and Delays
The introduction of the hub system for Speed Post, also recommended by McKinsey, has caused severe delays. Unfortunately, instead of correcting this failed experiment, the Department plans to extend the hub system to first-class and registered mails. This will only exacerbate the delays and erode public trust in India Post, pushing customers to private courier services. A similar failed experiment with air freight services has already resulted in losses for the Postal Department and added unnecessary delays to mail delivery.
5. Real-life Examples of Delay
The hub system has turned simple deliveries into logistical nightmares:
• Example 1: A Speed Post article sent from Rajahmundry to Kovvur (a mere 10 km apart) used to be delivered overnight. Now, it travels 700 km through Visakhapatnam and Vijayawada hubs before reaching its destination, taking days instead of hours.
• Example 2: A letter from Belur to Chikmagalur (30 km apart) is now routed through Mysore and Davangere, covering hundreds of unnecessary kilometers. What used to be a next-day delivery now takes much longer.
These examples highlight how ill-suited these consultancy recommendations are for India Post, causing delays and harming public trust.
6. The Bigger Picture
Postal employees, including Gramin Dak Sevaks, are facing numerous challenges, but the survival of India Post itself is at stake. The proposed changes—closing post offices, abolishing jobs, and curtailing services—will only weaken the institution. India Post is a lifeline for millions, especially in rural areas. If these harmful measures continue, couriers will take over, and the public will lose the affordable, reliable service they've depended on for generations.
7. Join Us in Saving Indian Postal Services
We have appealed to the government multiple times to stop these retrograde measures. Unfortunately, our pleas have gone unanswered. In light of this, we are forced to launch an indefinite strike starting 5th July 2011. We do not want to inconvenience the public, but we have no other choice. We urge the public and our valued customers to join us in appealing to the government to save India Post. Together, we can protect this vital service for future generations.
AFTER THREE DAYS OF CONTINUOUS HEATED DISCUSSIONS BY PJCA WITH THE THEN OFFICERS IN THE DIRECTORATE THE MOVE WAS DROPPED AND NOW IT IS BEING REINTRODUCED. UNFORTUNATE,
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