Surat postal service in disarray

[TrueBlueTerrier]

http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report_su ... ay_1414720" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Please note that this is a translation so the grammar is a little off.

Surat: Though Surat city is developing rapidly, but somehow it seems that postal department has lagged much behind in matching city's speed. Postal services are limited to few areas of the city, while a large number of people either wait for their letters or collect them from post-offices themselves. Shortage of staff, increase in area-limits and slackness on the part of higher officials are the main hurdles for the smooth functioning of the department.

Though operating from 66 post offices, postal department of the city merely covers half of city's population. People barely get their letters on time from their respective post- offices, posing a question mark on their very existence. Due to lack of postmen and support staff, there is heap of unattended post in majority of post-offices. According to figures, there is 50% staff shortage in 63 post-offices in the city.

"The situation has occurred as no permanent staff has been appointed by department in last 20 years. Department wants to make new appointments on contract basis offering meagre salary, with massive workload. Due to this, nobody is willing to work for the department," a post official said, requesting anonymity.

He added that if such situation continues, many post-offices will exist only for name. As per rule, a committee should review requirements of postal department in every three years. But the review has not been done since past six years.

Situation in areas, which got merged into city limits in 2006, is more terrible. No post-offices have been set up in these areas till now, due to which people there are still deprived of postal services. Local residents in these areas have complained several times in the past, but all have gone in vain.

Interestingly, 63 post-offices are running on rented premises, rents of which are not reviewed since past many years. As a result, many post-offices might get shifted in the coming days, leading to more problems. It seems that top officials of postal department are least concerned about it.

[baldrick]

Department wants to make new appointments on contract basis offering meagre salary, with massive workload.

Sounds familiar.