A bag full of letters, a khaki uniform and a cycle. Now, more women deliver posts than ever before.
Ranganathan, senior superintendent, Central Division, says after the recruitment norms were changed, many women have been applying for the job of delivering posts. “Of the 49 postwomen in the division, 10 are working at the T. Nagar office. The basic qualification is that one should have cleared Class 10. But graduates are also applying for the job,” he says.
Thilakavathi, who travels from Kancheepuram to T. Nagar, says she is treated like a policewomen.
“Seeing me in uniform, many offer their seats on the train. This dress gets so much of respect,” she adds.
K. Diyvapriya, who got this job on compassionate grounds after her father’s death, wears her uniform with pride. Attached to the T. Nagar head post office, she delivers posts on streets in and around South Usman Road.
“The best part of the job is that I get to meet so many people. Actually, people are very receptive and comfortable when one of us brings a letter,” she says. Seconding her, Mahalakshmi, says the interaction with people is the nicest thing about the job. “I receive so much of encouragement from the public. When they see us sweat, many people offer water or buttermilk,” she says.
Mary Porkodi, who has joined work after a week’s leave, says there are some downsides to the job.
“Street dog menace is the biggest problem. I fell down and fractured my hand when a dog chased me while I was on duty. We also face thefts of cycles,” she says.
Some women continue in the job despite resistance from their families. D. Jothiba, for instance, was asked by her family to resign, but she says she can’t sit at home. “I have got so used to this job and I enjoy it so much that I refused to quit,” she says.
The women say their job keeps them fit. “Cycling is part of our job and it keeps us fit. We just have to drink a lot of water to beat the heat,” says Diyvapriya. Hussain, post master, T. Nagar, says, “During the recent floods, post women were out there delivering speed posts.”
"Cycling is part of our job and it keeps us fit"