The postman always rings twice and with the current spate reforms at the India Post, he may even greet you warmly while dropping off your parcels, says Sudeshna Chatterjee
The world’s largest postal network, India Post is getting a planned make-over. For starters, the post men, who are the ‘look and feel’ of India Post, are getting trained in etiquettes and technological knowledge to facilitate an efficient and pleasant service. So, next time, when the post man greets you with a smile and talks softly while dropping your parcel or letter, don’t be amused. In fact, from this month, in the case of speed post and registered parcels, the process of intimating customers about its status is already in place.
By this system, till it reaches the concerned destination, the customer will be apprised about the status on his/her mobile phone through short messaging system (sms). Beside Speed Post, International Postal Express Mail Service (EMS), Electronic Money Order, Registered Mail, Express Parcel and Electronic Value Payable Parcel can all be tracked through online and sms.
Alok Ojha, director, Maharashtra circle, Department of Post, Union Ministry of Communication and IT, says that the idea is to build a database as is evident in Bangkok and China Posts. Here they have the entire data of customers like name, address, mobile phone number, credit card number, twitter/Facebook account if any etc. Now the customers there can book orders online and charges are made on their credit cards. They are intimated on their mobile number to nullify the chances of their credit cards being misused.
This way, even international trades are being operated by China Post with people in South-East nations. “In India, too, we are gearing towards it. Now a lot of communication like the Speed Post status is done through sms so that the customers are aware about its movement,” observes Ojha. To facilitate expediency in movements of parcels and letters, about 990 postal vans across the country will be soon equipped with Global Positioning System or GPS. Out of that, around 176 will be in Mumbai catering to needs of Thane, Mumbai, Navi Mumbai and Kalyan region. “We will have a monitoring body stationed in Mumbai GPO. The vans with GPS will be monitored to know its exact movements so that any errant driver can be caught napping. We are also training our men in understanding roads and bottlenecks better, so that they can take the fastest route possible. Even the post offices will be given vans so that the postmen can be dropped at the nearest location for delivery service, thereby cutting on time,” informs Ojha. Soon these vans will be seen at Borivli and Kandivli post offices and will be replicated in other post offices. “In future, all the vans will be GPS enhanced,” adds Ojha.
In future, online transactions will form a large part of the postal revenue. Hence the postmen are being trained in eCommerce that will facilitate customers for trading. “We foresee larger market share in ePost, ePayment, Instant Money Order (IMO) etc. Currently, India Post has also tied up with online stores like Amazon, Telebrand, Flipkart, Naaptol etc. It has just put its arm – Foreign Post Office Mumbai – on Facebook so that international customers sending parcels/letters to India and vice versa can track the movements of their stuff. Also software giant Infosys is helping India Post to have its own Core Banking System (CBS). It means anyone can deposit or encash from any post offices in the country vis-à-vis their postal savings scheme. The Kisan Vikas Patra (KVP) scheme has been re-started by the central government,” says Ojha.
Addressing problem!
While improving its services, one perennial problem India Post faces is letters or parcels with incomplete address. Hence, the new academic year will probably see an inclusion of a chapter on the significance of writing correct address in the class VII curriculum. Letters/parcels with incomplete address have been severely impeding the efficiency of the postal department and has been a long-pending issue. It was therefore decided that if such an issue was highlighted in the school text book, it would be helpful. t\The necessary approvals for this have already been taken and will be sent to the state education department for its comment and implementation. Post this it could be replicated in other states as well. There are 1.55 lakh post offices in the country.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}