The BJP-led NDA government now cast an evil eye on the postal department. It is planning to corporatize certain services such as life insurance and savings bank and thus slowly pave for privatisation of the institution.
It amounts to nothing but shaking the confidence of poor people and crores of pensioners who trust the postal services more.
Of the 4.5 lakh employees, nearly 60 percent came onto roads protesting the Centre’s move. Presently, the India Post has a wide network and is most trusted for its quality services. Similarly, savings scheme deposits and life insurance services are sought after by the people. The postal department is also acting as an agent in transferring money to labour under MNREG scheme.
National Federation of Postal Employees general secretary Mr Janardhan Mazumdar said the Central government is trying to introduce franchise system thus diluting the postal services. The private persons will enter the department. Instead, the government should open more post offices to reach the unreached corners of the country.
By introducing the Indian Postal Payment Bank (IPPB), the Central government is trying to corporatise small savings since 2018. There are about 650 IPPBs and 2,250 access points.
According to him the IPPBs currently has Rs 30 crore accounts and a balance of Rs 10 lakh crore, Mr Mazumdar said.
The Central government was also planning to delink the Railway Mail Service (RMS) from the Postal department and give it to Amazon, the major e-commerce giant.
Postal Employees leader Mr Suresh said Mr Modi government’s axe is aimed at the Postal department which is unfortunate.
By Gollapudi Srinivasa Rao